IN MEMORIAM
By Justa Wawĩra
You’ll be remembered
Monica of the golden heart
Not by the stroke of my pen
Nor by the haughty laughter
Of a child named in your name
But by the resurgence of passion
In the heart of I who held you
So near, so dear
You will be remembered too
By the rolling tears of saintly people
When they gather to weep and gather
Garlands of flowers for you…
Waving reluctant goodbyes
As your name resounds afar
You will be remembered
Not by screaming newspaper headlines
Nor in radio and TV broadcasts with your name
But in the sound of the gong
As the Holy Basilica Ground
A servant of Christ our Lord
Your name inscribed in gold for honor
To a girl who waged a war for humanity’s sake.
Do not hope for a Shakespearian mind
To scalpel your life in words
Nor hope for a Milton to scribble
A Paradise Regained in your favor
There won’t be any Philip Larkin
Or Emily Dickinson seeking to sing or write
For you. Yours shall be the song of Nightingales
The Doves and Angels on High.
Don’t even think there will be a street name
Inscribed on priceless wood
For you. Nor wish for a plaque
Sculptured to your form
When dictators can have these.
Look not at the tangible memoirs
Monica of the golden heart
Our love for you shall suffice
Philo and I shall stand in the gap
Never to let your name and deeds ever die
From our lips.
Written on 19/6/91
