The Mourning

THE MOURNING

Life’s precious.

Deaths revered.

A loss to a family

Is a loss to everybody.

Mourning is the community’s duty.

Could stretch for days, likely.

Hard to depart

with one so loved

and of high regard.



One of the mourners, perches on a swing,

sings out all his life story.

All the good he had done for the family.

All the good he had done to the community.

Whilst she wails out the story, most sadly.

The others echo her

and cry their eyes out unashamedly.

The mourning went on the whole night through.

A feat not simply anybody can do.



To the Ibans of the old days.

A death must be revered thus – always.

Otherwise ‘twill be construed as disrespect.

Something unthinkable and black.