Death of a Spouse

• Daniel Basuki
• Poetry
• 2006

The Evening Star, who brightened every day of my life,
Like a beacon in the darkness of the Night
My guardian angel, with whom I soared
To heights I never thought I could reach
My protectress who granted me never-ending support and strength
And helped me overcame dark nights of woe and misery.

She was once so very beautiful,
And yet she had no vain,
She was jolly, merry and youthful,
With her I felt no pain,
We shared together a thousand laughs and smiles,
We soothed each others’ pains and tears
And because of that, life became so wonderful.

But alas! Hades is so cruel,
To take my light away from me,
And with that, gone is my lust for living,
And with that, gone is my light of life,
And with that, all is lost, not even a tingle of joy is left – for me.

All the riches in the world
won't do enough for me,
All the ladies in the world,
ain't going to fulfill me,
All the good things in the world don't mean a thing to me should there be no one for me to share it with,
I've wept a thousand tears,
I've broken a thousand bones,
In asking, "Why?", "Why?", "Why?"

What could I possibly do to get you to come?
I’ve shed a thousand tears
I’ve muttered a thousand prayers
I’ve even promised the Great One,
That I would even give up everything I have,
Just so that we could again be together as one,
I’ve done everything a husband could do,
But yet you still remain beneath your headstone,
Your eyes closed in Eternal Rest.

My Darling, I even beg Death to take me to you,
Without your never-endingly radiant presence,
I’m blind to the beauties of this Earth,
Without your hope, compassion and strength,
I am nothing but a poor homeless man,
In this place of doom and gloom called the World,
I ask of Heaven, of Gods and the Pantheon,
To reunite me with my only true and pure love,
So that we can be together, like the Sky and Earth,
With bereavement so dark, with regret so deep
I’ll be waiting, till the time for us to be together comes.