living and the dead

was at dear friend mala's father's wake this afternoon
he passed away last night
they had struggled with his caner for the past two years or so

they only have one day of wake
tomorrow is the funeral
no casket, just a body lying in the living room
covered by a silk sheet with embroidery
with recorded hindu chanting playing over and over
flower pedals spread on and around his body
his lifeless, breathless body

wish i could have met him while he was still alive
mala said "i will miss him"
tears fell

i can't imagine what kind of laughter he had
the life he lived
surrounded by his children and grandchildren

there was incense burning
some offerings of coconuts and other fruits

i sat there
watching the women chattering away around the lifeless body
all in tamil
were they ignoring the fact that someone has passed?
or they simply believe that he is passing on to the next life?
i wasn't sure
while the men sat outside also talking to each other

somehow the sorrow, the smell of the incense, the recorded chanting
all were too much for me
i'm sure it's even more overwhelming to dear mala

just continue to pray that the living will be comforted
while tears continues, peace will come from above