Paying Homage

Since the deceased was buried this morning in a simple ceremony

the family has consoled itself in its own way

because the late, however beloved he might have been,

will never come back again

Only the father and son try to hide their sadness behind poignant grins

"He has devotedly woken us with his mellow voice

and reminded us to show our gratitude to God Almighty,

the thing we have never done perfectly

"Alas, who will be your playmate now?"

The father caressed his son's head

for that was the bereavement they had tried to forget

Suddenly sunshine pierced through the door hinge

The whole family stood up, anxious

"I listened to your conversation and felt obliged to drop by," he said in his dulcet voice

He hugged the child, who was staring at him plainly

with everyone's eyes brimming with and shedding tears

"May God send you another beloved one"

Allahu Akbar *)

"Oh God, what a blessing we get.

Oh Prophet, only our simple bird is dead

but You have been so kind as to pay us homage?

And how the dark cloud can remain floating up there

while only about us the sun does care?

Oh, how happy this community would be

if all its members were enlightened by a particle of this glare"

*) Arabic for God is Great

-- By A. Mustofa Bisri

Translated from Tadarus by TIS