Reflection in Ordinary Time: All Souls' Day

 

The Day of the Dead
William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1859

All Souls Day is marked by the Church on the day after All Saints Day.  In Latin countries, such as Spain and Mexico, it is observed as "The Day of the Dead" and can be quite a colourful celebration of rememberance of those near and dear to us who have died.  

This year, All Souls Day hasos a particular poignancy, as so many lives have been lost around the globe, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  The mourning of all who have died since the start of this year -- whether due to the virus or other causes -- has been stifled by our inabililty to gather together for close comfort; this has deepened our grief and prolonged our sorrow.

Priest and poet Malcolm Guite has written a new book of poetry, specifically in response to the impact of the virus and our global months of quarantine.  It is a series of quatrains, four-line poems, which are often written as a set; the book is entitled The Quarantine Quatrains: A New Rubaiyat -- so called because each set of quatrains is accompanied by a beautiful illustration -- as was the Rubaiyat of old -- created by artist Roger Wagner.

The final set of quatrains in this publication are dedicated to all those who have been caring for the ill, especially those who have died as a result of exposure to COVID-19.  I share it here for your reflection on this special day of remembering...all souls...

VII

35

At close of day I hear the gentle rain/Whilst experts on the radio explain/Mind-numbing numbers, rising by the day/Cyphers of unimaginable pain.

36

Each evening the announce the deadly toll/And patient voices calmly call the roll/I hear the numbers, cannot know the names/Behind each number, mind and heart and soul

37

Behind each number one beloved face/A light in life whom no-one can replace,/Leaves on this world a signature, a trace,/A gleaning and a memory of grace.

38

All loved and loving, carried to the grave/The ones whom ever effort could not save/Amongst them all those carers whose strong love/Bought life for others with the lives they gave.

39

The sun sets and I find myself in prayer/Lifting aloft the sorrow that we share/Feeling for words of hope amidst despair.I voice my vespers through the quiet air:

40

O Christ who suffers with us, hold us close,/Deep in the secret garden of the rose,/Raise over us the banner of your love/And raise us up beyond our last repose.

-- Malcolm Guite, The Quarantine Quatrains, limited edition, UK 2020

NOTE: To hear the poet read this quatrain, and each of the others, click HERE.

May this bless your day.