end of life

the sun obscured

but the lotus still blossoms

with its last deep breath

.

your liberation

the fragrance of a lotus

lingers on my skin

-an end of life haiku

on this first of may, my aunty (mom’s sister) passed away on a dreary melbourne winter morning. she suffered much with pancreatic cancer the past year.

just a month before we had performed the 49th day after death ritual for my grandfather’s passing. he was 100 years old. my aunt was 73. in a few more weeks we will also mourn my aunts 49 days…and then my grandpas 100 days…and on and on the cycle of their yearly anniversary of death - to cherish the memories of their bittersweet fragrance that they have left for us in their wake.

after the funeral my cousins found themselves smelling her clothes. it comforted them. this sensory dance with grief and love.