photos from Nepal by the PoetA Poem Written Upon Watching Public Cremations in Nepal, by James A. Tweedie The Society March 29, 2025 Beauty, Culture, Poetry 9 Comments . Burning the Pieta Thoughts After Viewing Public Cremations at the Pashupatinath Temple Complex in Kathmandu, Nepal —for Alok With tears wash fallen feet which once had stood To face a fated life with wonder and desire. Inhale the smoke and ash of flesh and wood; Breathe in the acrid air of sorrowed fire. The end of a beginning yet begun, As what remains of what once was is cast Into the stream and what is done is done, The mask remains, to grieve past futures passed. Tomorrows live us into life and death As cycles lead us to enlightenment, Perhaps, or to inhale inspired breath, Eternal life a present heaven-sent. Like incense, death by fire is consumed. And so through death and ash is life resumed. . Poet’s Note: The temple, on the banks of the Bagmati River, is the most important Hindu temple and pilgrimage site in Nepal. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. . . James A. Tweedie is a retired pastor living in Long Beach, Washington. He has written and published six novels, one collection of short stories, and four collections of poetry including Sidekicks, Mostly Sonnets, and Laughing Matters, all with Dunecrest Press. His poems have been published nationally and internationally in both print and online media. He was honored with being chosen as the winner of the 2021 SCP International Poetry Competition. NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets. The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary. 9 Responses James Sale March 29, 2025 A beautiful piece, James: it has a meditative serenity about it, as well as the great closure that the sonnet form enables. Very fine writing. Reply Roy Eugene Peterson March 29, 2025 James, precious poem on the cycles of life that confront us and yet gives hope for the future. Reply Paul A. Freeman March 29, 2025 Very vivid, and good use of each quatrain to delve into and expand the topic of each. Impressive photography, too. Thanks for the read. Reply Joseph S. Salemi March 29, 2025 This sonnet is as much about life as it is about death. Two quatrains and the closing couplet contain the words “life” or “live.” The structure of the sonnet is perfect and the diction is lovely. But I think there is an extra foot in line two that gives the line six beats instead of five. If the word “fated” were removed, the line would become a pentameter like all the rest. Reply James A. Tweedie March 29, 2025 Correct. Will consider. Thanks. Reply James A. Tweedie March 29, 2025 Note: I submitted this as a Good Friday poem (see the use of the word, “Pieta” in the title) for, among other things, it is intended as a meditation on the atoning death of Christ as an alternative to the cycles of reincarnation central to Hinduism. This alternative is located in the use of the pivotal word, “or” in line 11: As cycles lead us to enlightenment, Perhaps, OR to inhale inspired breath, Eternal life a present heaven-sent. The Christian embrace of “die but once” (Hebrews 9:11) and resurrection to eternal life (by grace through faith in the atoning death of Jesus) stands in contrast to the idea of reincarnation, a fated (Buddhist) or karmic (Hindu) cycle of life and death (a concept also found in Greek philosophy). Hinduism is a complex, interwoven tapestry of cosmologies and the poem was written to reflect some of this, as well, out of respect for the friend for whom it was written when we were together in Nepal two weeks ago–written the same day the photographs were taken. Reply Dan Davis March 29, 2025 I felt the weight of that ‘or’, it is a well executed turning point. Reply Adam Sedia March 30, 2025 This was a captivating piece. Not a subject one sees often (in a poem or in person). I love to see how your travels produce poetry. Like other readers, I found your incorporation of Hindu (and perhaps Buddhist) cosmology into your argument without wholly giving over to it. Submitting it for Good Friday was a good call; it is an apt memento mori, a contemplation of life, death, and eternity. Reply Margaret Coats March 31, 2025 James, this thoughtful but seemingly dispassionate reflection presents a variety of emotions about death. I find cremation a horror to contemplate (however and wherever done), yet your words that speak of tears and sorrow and grief in the process are themselves a passage of “sorrowed fire” about “what is done is done.” The technique of repetition seems to alleviate the subject, as does your subtly contrasting Christian consideration of what you recently witnessed. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Δ This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
James Sale March 29, 2025 A beautiful piece, James: it has a meditative serenity about it, as well as the great closure that the sonnet form enables. Very fine writing. Reply
Roy Eugene Peterson March 29, 2025 James, precious poem on the cycles of life that confront us and yet gives hope for the future. Reply
Paul A. Freeman March 29, 2025 Very vivid, and good use of each quatrain to delve into and expand the topic of each. Impressive photography, too. Thanks for the read. Reply
Joseph S. Salemi March 29, 2025 This sonnet is as much about life as it is about death. Two quatrains and the closing couplet contain the words “life” or “live.” The structure of the sonnet is perfect and the diction is lovely. But I think there is an extra foot in line two that gives the line six beats instead of five. If the word “fated” were removed, the line would become a pentameter like all the rest. Reply
James A. Tweedie March 29, 2025 Note: I submitted this as a Good Friday poem (see the use of the word, “Pieta” in the title) for, among other things, it is intended as a meditation on the atoning death of Christ as an alternative to the cycles of reincarnation central to Hinduism. This alternative is located in the use of the pivotal word, “or” in line 11: As cycles lead us to enlightenment, Perhaps, OR to inhale inspired breath, Eternal life a present heaven-sent. The Christian embrace of “die but once” (Hebrews 9:11) and resurrection to eternal life (by grace through faith in the atoning death of Jesus) stands in contrast to the idea of reincarnation, a fated (Buddhist) or karmic (Hindu) cycle of life and death (a concept also found in Greek philosophy). Hinduism is a complex, interwoven tapestry of cosmologies and the poem was written to reflect some of this, as well, out of respect for the friend for whom it was written when we were together in Nepal two weeks ago–written the same day the photographs were taken. Reply
Adam Sedia March 30, 2025 This was a captivating piece. Not a subject one sees often (in a poem or in person). I love to see how your travels produce poetry. Like other readers, I found your incorporation of Hindu (and perhaps Buddhist) cosmology into your argument without wholly giving over to it. Submitting it for Good Friday was a good call; it is an apt memento mori, a contemplation of life, death, and eternity. Reply
Margaret Coats March 31, 2025 James, this thoughtful but seemingly dispassionate reflection presents a variety of emotions about death. I find cremation a horror to contemplate (however and wherever done), yet your words that speak of tears and sorrow and grief in the process are themselves a passage of “sorrowed fire” about “what is done is done.” The technique of repetition seems to alleviate the subject, as does your subtly contrasting Christian consideration of what you recently witnessed. Reply