Why hate Death, why?
Death brings glory to you
You may be despised and rejected
Hated and considered irrelevant
But alas comes Death!
And you are treated with some respect
People say so many good things about you
You are glorified
You are honored
Your soul rests in perfect peace
Thanks to Death who makes it so
copyright 2007 Karo E.K.D. Akamune
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At some point in my life, I began to wonder why only really, really good things are mentioned of folks at their funeral services. Regardless, of how the individual lived his life or her life, all we hear are praises, honor, adoration, compliments, etcetera, etcetera… Sometimes one notices flattery. And the flatteries can be so obvious! And you tend to doubt the sincerity of the speakers…
I decided to put pen to paper (or rather, fingers to laptop!) one evening as I watched an obituary announcement on my State’s local television [Delta Rainbow TV, Nigeria]. This station is popularly known for allocating a good number of airtime to such announcements. As a result, it has earned the tag, “The Station of Agwogwo Ugwu.”? I think hearing the nice words and maybe flatteries, coupled with my initial musings all worked me up to finally say, “OK, I’m going to write a poem on death”. And write, I did on Thursday, August 16, 2007.
You may look at this poem from different perspectives or angles. You may see it as a joke. Period. I composed it as a joke, as a teaser in a bid to encourage people not to be worried or anxious or sad because of the disrespect, despise or even hatred they may receive from their ignorant brothers and sisters – fellow human beings.
“After all, when you die, these same people will say so many good things about you. They will show a lot of respect and shower honors on you! So, relax, it’s just a matter of time – 10 years or 100 years, ‘whatever’! Take heart, smile, the hatred or rejection will be over soon. You may die at age 80 or 120. That’s fine. But that is soon, anyway! 1,000 years is like a day, you see! So, be patient! They will say so many good things about you! LOL…”+
Another perspective is this: a subtle, indirect protest against the flatteries. It is okay to say nice things about the departed. But it is shameful even deceitful to seek to flatter them. Why over-exaggerate? Why? It is honorable for you to speak sincerely…
Then comes this other angle: Frankly, “Why do you really hate death?” Don’t you see that death is a tool that transits you from the earthly to the heavenly, from the mortal to the immortal, from the confusing world to the paradisiacal spheres?
This confusing world may be real in your experience but there is something much much better, great and grand. You can experience it here but that is, “a maybe”. However, you are certain to experience it there! At least, your chances, it seems are far, far, much higher.
So, why hate the Death that brings you great gifts! Sure, you pray to live long. That’s fine. I have that. But even if you live to healthily celebrate your 130th birthday, your friend, Death will come knocking someday. It’s just a matter of time. You see, “Death” takes you to a higher life…
I am persuaded that the problem is not “Death” but the manner in which one may die. The problem may also be premature death. Death should not be blamed for “premature deaths”. If you want to play the blame game, then look at the lifestyle of the individual concerned. Maybe Death came because he had a car accident driving drunk! Whose fault is it? Death’s? No, friend! Blame it on “Mr. Foolishness” or some wickedness but not “Mrs. Death”.
Maybe he caught a sexually transmitted disease through his sleeping around. Now he is dead at age 40. Whose fault is it? Death’s? No, my dear! It is the immoral lifestyle or what you may call, “sin”. Sin may facilitate “the quicker coming” of brother Death. But it is important to understand that sin is not Death. Death is not sin. Death comes to the most righteous as well as to the most ungodly. Death and sin are not God-made friends. Death is simply a technique of moving from the terrestrial to the celestial. Or do you want to be stuck here forever?
Sure, Death is not only the technique with which you can journey from the terrestrial to the celestial or from the mortal to the immortal. Another technique is, “Spontaneous Human Combustion” or what some religious or spiritual folks call “Being caught up, translation or rapture”. This is what must have happened to Elijah and Enoch (of Bible stories). This does happen – even to this day. You can do your homework. Thank God for the Internet. Do an online search for, “Spontaneous Human Combustion”. Stories abound!
So what do you want – Death or translation? I think it’s up to you! Nevertheless, it is either/or. None is inglorious. Death, in and of itself is not inglorious and obviously not “translation”.
Now it is observably clear: “A major reason why I wrote The Death poem is to air my opinion that death is not unfriendly.” Death has been designed by the Creator to help us to grow, to advance and to enjoy more varied opportunities of becoming greater versions of ourselves… Thank you! LOL!
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? Agwogwo Ugwu – Announcement of Death or Transition [Urhobo Language]
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