Funeral Blues

If you have watched "Four Weddings and a Funeral", chances are you might remember John Hannah reciting a touching poem at the funeral of his partner in the movie.

"Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good."

W H Auden is the brilliant mind behind this poignant piece of work. Every line within the stanzas resonates of true love; love which is so deep-seated within the heart that I can't help but think that even in death, the person who was mourning was fortunate - fortunate to have experienced true love in a better time.

This poem also reminds me of a Hokkien song "家后" written by a Taiwanese singer/composer. These lines, loosely translated, moves me immensely. "When the time comes, I will let you go first cos I cannot bear to leave you alone to weep for me" and "When the time comes, do let me go first cos I cannot bear the thought of watching you crying over me".

有一日咱若老　找无人甲咱友孝　我会陪你
坐惦椅寮　听你讲少年的时阵　你有外摮
吃好吃丑无计较　怨天怨地嘛袂晓　你的手
我会甲你牵条条　因为我是你的家后

阮将青春嫁置恁兜　阮对少年跟你跟甲老
人情世事已经看透透　有啥人比你卡重要
阮的一生献乎恁兜　才知幸福是吵吵闹闹
等待返去的时阵若到　我会让你先走
因为我会呒甘　放你为我目屎流

有一日咱若老　有媳妇子儿友孝　你若无聊
拿咱的相片　看卡早结婚的时阵　你外缘投
穿好穿丑无计较　怪东怪西嘛袂晓
你的心我会永远记条条　因为我是你的家后

阮将青春嫁置恁兜　阮对少年就跟你跟甲老
人情世事嘛已经看透透　有啥人比你卡重要
阮的一生献乎恁兜　才知幸福是吵吵闹闹
等待返去的时阵若到　你着让我先走
因为我会呒甘　看你为我目屎流


Mcdull