The birds seem to sing the most haunting song at morning’s break
When the sun has broken on the day of burial,
When moonlight succumbs to daily repose
And life becomes awashed in solar resplendence.
When the sun has broken on the day of burial,
When the women have wailed and washed the body
And life becomes awashed in solar resplendence.
When the earth is broken and torn by darkened eyes.
When the women have wailed and washed the body
Eyes no longer descend on suffering
And life becomes awashed in solar resplendence.
Then men prostrate and utter ‘from Allah we come and must return’.
Eyes no longer descend on suffering
When sand begins to darken the burial shroud
Then men prostrate and utter ‘from Allah we come and must return’.
It is only when the ground is filled that we speak words unspoken.
A.R. Arthur (formerly A.R. Salandy) is a Black Mixed-race poet & writer who has spent most of his life in Kuwait jostling between the UK & America. Anthony’s work has been published over 240 times internationally. Anthony’s Flash Fiction was shortlisted and received an honourable mention in the 2022 The Dillydoun Flash Fiction Prize Competition. Anthony has 3 published chapbooks titled ‘The Great Northern Journey’ 2020 (Lazy Adventurer Publishing) & ‘Vultures’ 2021 (Roaring Junior Press) as well as a novel ‘The Sands of Change’ 2021 (Alien Buddha Press). Anthony’s Chapbook ‘Half Bred’ was the Winner of the 2021 ‘The Poetry Question’ Chapbook contest. Anthony is the EIC of Fahmidan Journal/Publishing & Co, Review Editor at Full House Literary & Poetry Editor at Chestnut Review. Twitter/Instagram: @ararthurwriter https://ararthurwriter.wordpress.com/