I give strength to those who are full of grief,
And honour those now fast asleep.
Long-term, short-term, maybe sudden,
I arrive soon after the click of a button.
No whānau there, or maybe an Iwi,
I provide aroha to those that greet me.
I wait until the families pray,
“I'll take care of them now”, I may say.
Watching through the rearview mirror,
I see the whānau begin to quiver.
Driving through the midst of night,
I sing a song to begin their flight
Back in the morgue, ill chant a prayer
Hoping to get them safely there,
I close their eyes and set the features
Start embalming and turn up the speakers.
“It was nice to meet you”, I greet the dead
This is where my life’s journey has led.
Poem Composed by Siobhan Wilson - Funeral Director & Embalmer ©