Of Death’s Fate

Death is not final
Thanks to God the eternal
At conception life is affirmed
But God knew me before I was formed
Deep in my mother’s womb
God goes beyond the tottering tomb
And when with the hosts I shall rise
With glory and glee shall I praise
I shall claim my eternal prize
So though pained I am at the moment
Suffering much anguish and torment
And wailing and whining with lament
Lord God of hosts
Clear all the ghosts
So I may in your kingdom
Dwell with freedom
Grant the mourners hope
Let them not in darkness grope
Enlighten them with light
So light they become
And heavy hearts they abandon
And soon rejoice at my death
Which is but a transfiguration
Enabling me in thy nation
And with John Donne I exalt
As I mock the sting-less death!

The cross

Before thy victory it was just but a pole
With no definite role
But wood for tools
Fuel for food
Fire for the furnace
A hangman’s noose
Tied on to it
To exit one from life to
Death
A criminal’s den and punishment
Then came the crucifixion
After the passion tenderly borne
On either side hang the criminals
One penitent
The other reverend
And you promised the penitent paradise
Three days later
And you defeated death
The cross claimed new victory
A sign of the cross
A sign of salvation
And so in valleys and mountains
In houses and fields
Hoist or worn
On top of buildings
Or as a muttering
Your cross is victory.

Denis Waswa Barasa enjoys poetry and Literature in general. He teaches English and Literature at The Immaculate Heart of Mary Luuya Girls High School in Bungoma County, Kenya. He holds a B.Ed(Arts) and M.A(Literature) both from the University of Nairobi.