The Eternal Rest
You can find Ashmita on Facebook @IamAshmita
Aurora Borealis 19th Century Engraving from Popular Scientific Recreations in Natural Philosophy, Astronomy, Geology, Chemistry by Gaston Tissandier
Let my breathing body rester afloat,
as I lay upon my slumber eternal.
I beseech you all
for it has pined forever-
a deluge glacial,
a refreshing frozen shower,
slowly submerging into
frosty, invigorating waters, chilly
of that of the ocean fathomless.
Set not ablaze my crumbling corpse.
Let it not be afire, as it goes
to its glory. I implore you all
for it has burned forever-
no can it endure
scorching flames any longer.
For it has yearned forevermore
splashes swashes sprinkles spritzes soothing
on its skin supple, the sparkles scintillating.
Let my body not be buried
in a grave. Let me not be enclosed
in fences once again.
For has suffocated forever-
gasping ever for a breath of air,
the thirsty lungs so pure.
Let me not be caged once again in chains
as I go home to my beloved's heart
to my ultimate freedom forever.
Let reach the relics of my remains.
Deep into the fervent depth of waters
where would slumber in peace
Silence sempiternal.
Where Love would ignite ever the core.
Where Grace would alight ever the soul.
Where would whisper Essence the pulse Divine.
Where would bid it an adoring adieu
to this somber sphere,
to this world austere.
Oh, darling friends!
Look at me, See me, Hear me, Listen to me.
Go bestrew the relics of my rustling remains.
Let my ashes be swashed asearse
in everlasting repose.
Where it would rollick tranquility.
Where would somber it slumber serenity.
Frolicking festive fiestas
as it relives its rescuing siestas.
Let me ungrave my quintessential waves.
Sprout in 'em the incessant Infinity-
till the roots of my endless, eternal essence
reveal into a tranquil Serenity-
into the infinite expansion of That
the Divinity.
Let me submerge into the Great Waters.
Let me dissolve into the Cosmic Seas.
The entire voyage is Nothing.
But only an inanely
lonesome, insanely
tiresome journey.
Oh, beloved hearts!
Will you listen to me for one last time?
Let this heart breathe its final gasp.
Let it dissipate as breezes crisp.
Let me dissolve into the Divine depths.
Let me soar into the Divine heights.
Let me folks please do,
I beseech you all-
Let me erase
all that is me and not me. Let me fade
into this final moment with my first ease.
About the author:
Ashmita Acharya is an Austin-based writer and internationally published poet. She is the author of Beyond the Spectrum, AshAaar-E-Anjumann, Aquiver, Arsh The Sky, and several other poetry anthologies. She serves as editor of the literary journal Kavya Dhara, a publication of the International Nepali Literary Society. A Kathmandu-born Nepalese-American, she explores identity crises and the intersection of socio-cultural identities through her writing in English, Nepali, and Hindi-Urdu. An investigator by profession, Ashmita holds a degree in International Relations and Global Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, with concentrations in International Security and Asian Studies.