My Ma’s Last Earthly Rites Completed.

Baatshorik ceremony over.
Annual remembrance rites.
Tired knees aching from
Sitting cross legged in
Cramped space.
A year ago, I had to recite her name
Prefacing “Preta” spirit, before her name.
It hurt. Pretatmas, in childhood tales
Were malignant mischief mongers,
Unhappy dwellers in spiritual vales.
To call out your mother’s name,
Preta… “Sumita De Bhaumik,”
Had torn me.
Her alabaster beauty had incensed,
Heated tears had burnt my blinded
Eyelids and lashes. I had faithfully
Recited the prayers, to free her from
Domain of petty spirits, to send her
Soul to lofty abodes, by daughter’s
Plea to divinity.
And one year later, this was the
Cementing of last year’s pledge.
That final farewell of releasing
What had been your own beloved
Mother, but was so much more
Than that.

She departs now into vales unknown
Realms of eternity, faith’s cornerstone,
Set in ether, she is still my mother
But
She no longer belongs to me alone.
She is now traversing the cosmic plan
Her destiny, her allotted ley lines,
The lay of lands untravelled by me.

Here's wishing her “Happiness Forever
Wherever She May Be.”
Capitalised, memorialised.
Here’s a farewell that leaves me cold as
A corpse, ever entwined in thee.

Best of best of best Mothers
I miss you so much sweetheart
Every room in the house rocks
With your memories.
The hallway falls silent, deliquescent
Shadows, with traces of your tranquil peace.
I miss you so, it is vast sheer agony and
A grave majestic bliss.
Always shall, so long as I have faintest
Breath and life in me.
Beyond that? My darling beloved mother,
We shall still have to wait and see.