His work is done outdoors in the sunshine and amidst nature
Immense peace descends on him as he watches life mature
Into a ripeness that is not of this world and leaves signless
On a journey of trackless proportions that is quite endless
Knaves and Knights come alike to him, differing in the sheath
But embracing the same basic elements shrouded in many wreaths
Proclaiming a sameness to the world at large, that sees diversity
While truth be said, there is no distinction, or clinging affinity
Heaving his work tools he toils in the graves, laying all to rest
In a peaceful plot of warm earth, the worst lying beside the best
Endless bickering over gold, land, allied spoils, lull to silence
Finally there is content, transient, but precious in its essence
Accompanying groups cry and wail, pretending as if they will stay
When right after the return home, it will be time to come away
The Grave digger knows this elemental truth and remains calm
Witnessing the residue of life, to be interred and to be embalmed
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This has reference to your verse entitled “Last Sentinel”. This is a real gem of a composition, perhaps one of the very best that you have penned so far and you have used a very wide canvas to portray your thoughts, in this instance.
You have touched upon three major players in the drama that you have sought to unfold in this poem, namely, the dead, the kith and kin who accompany the dead to the grave, and last but certainly not the least (to use a wellworn cliché), the grave digger, who comes out as the major charachter in this cameo.
As far as the dead person is concerned, you have indicated that his tireless cravings for material acquisitions have finally ended with his internment in the grave, where he finds a peace, that you have very aptly described as transient. This is so true, considering the fact, that even before he tries to consolidate his newfound peace in the warmth of earth’s embrace, it will be time for him to take another birth, and to jump on to the bandwagon of the endless cycle of life and death, once again, as prompted by his karma.
The ravings and rantings of the kith and kin accompanying the dead, to the graveyard, their outpouring of grief, which seems to be tainted with a touch of hypocrisy, and their eagerness to put the entire episode behind them as quickly as possible, so that they can return once again to the rat race of everyday life, has been beautifully brought out, by you.
Lastly, the stoical and almost philosophic indifference of the grave digger to the drama of breastbeating and wailing, unfolding around him, because of his being inured to such scenes, due to repeated exposure to such events on many previous occasions in the past and the almost karmayogic attitude with which he ignores the goings-on around him and concentrates on his assigned job of getting the grave ready, to receive the dead, has been brought out by you in a masterly fashion.
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