When breath becomes air

In this poem I am processing the grief of losing my beloved maternal aunt. I am continuously reminded of “When breath becomes air” by Paul Kalanidhi. And I use that title as the starting point.

When water becomes tear

When fire meets pyre

Who do you call?

What do you miss?

Tears on the faces

Roll down in places

You may not remember

Memories that remain

When near becomes far

When light becomes dark

What do you remember?

Who do you kiss?

When you sleep to never awake

Death is then a celebration of life

When you are free from

The prison of sickness

When body becomes fossil

When arguments fade way

unconditional love flows free

Unfortunately, this love you can’t see

***

I am so far away

I can’t hold your hand

Or let myself sway

In the breeze of your breath

I hold deep in my heart 

the warmth of your touch

And I desperately miss 

The touch of your lips

Against my forehead

That time we met 

Seven years ago

unaware, it will be the last

I wish I had held you 

for an extra moment or two

And I wish I had expressed 

How I treasured and loved you