As I have read the New Prague Times over the past six months, the number of deaths reported in the obituaries are juxtaposition with that of the number of weddings. Just because the pandemic is killing a huge segment of our population, that has not thwarted those couples seeking to be married. The juxtaposition of death and life continues to be played out. This poem and music in two parts reflects this dichotomy that is a part of our lives these days. Whether it be celebrating a life that has ended, or celebrating the lives of a couple that have just begun, one thing is consistent, because of the danger of infection, only small, isolated groups can gather to honor and support both celebrations.
Here is the poem and the music that reflects the poem.
JUXTAPOSITION 2: A Lullaby and a Waltz
Lullaby for a Deceased Loved One
So many walk,
eyes cast downward,
Draped in black,
Bruised and battered
By the sting of death.
Their loved one placed
Among the community
Of the non-living, who
Will now attend
To their future needs.
A Wedding Waltz
Across the town,
Faces lift skyward,
Adorned in white,
Young love’s promises
Dreams to be fulfilled,
And new life generated.
They take their place
In the community
Of the living, who
Will now attend
To their future needs.
Love triumphs over death,
Plucking from death its sting.
(c) 2020 by Robert Charles Wagner. All rights reserved.
