Funeral Lament

 

By

 

Marcelo A. Ndongo Mba
(translated by Mark Andrew Holmes)

 

 

 

Cruel death, which tears from our arms
without pity the most beloved image,
smashing the soul to smithereens
 by the absence of being and being forgotten.
 And even though he’s absent,
 one endures the imprint of his steps,
 his memory,
 beating in our hearts and encouraging our life.