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Hymn of Death

Hymn of Death

By Nadia Wardeh
In Artworks

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Originally written in Arabic, in my poem, "Hymn of Death," I weave a meditation on mortality, remembrance, and the unyielding echo of the human spirit in the face of loss. Through vivid, haunting imagery—standing on the cusp of darkness, gathering whispers of light from the night, and contemplating the silent departure of the soul—this work explores the fragile boundary where life dissolves into eternity. Scenes of repose and surrender unfold—faces etched with sorrow, the gentle act of relinquishing one’s essence into earth’s embrace—while unseen spirits and loved ones drift like shadows in a quiet, unbreakable rhythm. It reflects on the cycles of transition and renewal, emphasizing that even in finality, there exists a sanctuary of comfort—a plush haven where the spirit finds its ultimate peace.

This poem engages deeply with themes of aftermath and resilience, underscoring how memories, stories, and spirits continue to shape our understanding of existence beyond the limits of physical death. It reveals the mystical threads linking the living and departed—whispering of a continuum no moment can sever. The recurring motifs of shadows, tears, and memories evoke an ongoing dialogue between presence and absence, pain and solace, illustrating that love’s enduring bond persists beyond the mortal veil. As darkness and dawn intertwine, mourning and hope cycle eternally, suggesting that even amidst upheaval and loss, what endures can bloom anew—silently, subtly, resiliently.

"Hymn of Death" invites reflection on the silent echoes of our deepest moments—a testament to the spirit’s indomitable resilience. It whispers that even at the edge of life, beyond mortality’s embrace, the eternal song of the human soul persists—a gentle hymn of hope and rebirth rooted in the profound interconnectedness of time, memory, and spirit.

Hymn of Death

I stand on the edge of darkness,
reaching for the last glow of the moon’s light.
From the night, I gather what remains,
gazing down at a life vanished in a breath.
My shadow enfolds me, binding tight—
and I rest alone,
filling myself with emptiness,
while boredom seeps like silent rain.
***
On the bed of farewell, I prepare to leave,
my sleep merging with waking thoughts.
A green bird lands on my cradle, beating wings in hush—a mystery I cannot grasp.
It enfolds me in its wings, whispering softly:
"Don’t fear—rejoice.
I will carry you into another realm,
and be your guide on this voyage."
***
My soul escapes its coffin—breaking free from its cage,
clinging to an angel’s wings from the sky.
Turning back,
I see a body laid in soil and water,
faces heavy with sorrow—
tears blurring their sight,
mourning what is now a memory,
a story told in evening’s lament.
***
There is noise and shadows—visions dense with life—
bodies burdened with a coffin of impossible wood,
the road unfurling endlessly before them.
Oh companion—how long is this journey?
Those who bear me now will walk this road at dawn,
and in time, the chain will turn once more—
all shall follow in its quiet, unbreakable rhythm.
Has the tremor arrived?
***
My companions, bearing my coffin—
they move in gentle silence toward my eternal sleep,
to cradle me in the embrace of my plush haven—
my everlasting refuge, my sanctuary.
A hole in the earth remains eager to hold me—
recalling the day I departed—humans of clay,
shutting the door behind
***
Darkness sweeps across fleeting moments,
heavy rain pouring from the sky
from cracks in the door, I see faces—
lost, overwhelmed by departure.
Steps retreat …
they vanish into the shadows, returning home, burdened by loss.
***
All have gone, and I remain—
inscriptions of letters and numbers carved upon my tomb,
marking a name that rain will gently wear away—
etched with the dates of birth and death,
and verses from poems I once cherished.
Bouquets of lilies lie scattered over my remains,
fruits of prickly pear and fig fallen softly to the ground around me.
***
I walk into an empty void, filled with whispers of spirits—
comforting my loneliness on this journey.
I’ve mastered the art of listening…
to echoes of ancient hymns—
resounding over the first to embrace void,
the first to taste death,
the first travelers without return—
my brother Habil,
the first martyr,
the first lament,
the first blood spilled,
the first tears shed,
the first star settling in the sky
***
My soul slips away from itself
—chasing shadows,
running alongside footsteps fading into time.
Leaving behind the course of the wind,
pursuing spirits soaring beyond illusions.
Night erases their traces—
they lose themselves in the chaos of shadows. 
I wander through a barren realm—neither life nor death—
where familiar voices call my name
and sing of arrival and farewell.
Hands entwined, squeezing wine
they prepare a feast of reunion after long absence.
Joy radiates in their eyes, waving with love and warmth.
***
I keep walking, glimpsing those claimed by death before me—
those who carried my coffin,
I see my cradle,
I see my grave… I close my eyes and see—
everything I see.


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About Nadia Wardeh

Dr. Nadia Wardeh is a university professor, scholar, consultant, author, certified life coach, former director of the Middle Eastern Studies program, and founder of the MEST forum at the American University in Dubai. She has extensive 22+ years of multidisciplinary and international experience and proficiency in higher education in Jordan, Canada, and UAE.

Dr. Wardeh holds an MA and Ph.D. in Islamic/Middle Eastern Studies from McGill University, a higher diploma in tourism and hospitality from Lasalle College in Canada, and a BA in history and philosophy from the University of Jordan.

Dr. Wardeh is the author of numerous publications in the fields of Islamic/Middle Eastern/Arabic studies, interreligious/intercultural dialogues, gender studies, youth studies, media, and cultural studies. She writes free prose, and poetry in Arabic. Some of her poems have been published on different platforms and in different journals. A collection of her poems was presented in art exhibitions in the UAE and Lebanon.

Dr. Wardeh is an active participant in different international conferences and an active member of different multi-disciplinary organizations and higher education institutions. She received numerous teaching excellence and research honors in Canada, the UAE, Germany, Austria, and Belgium.