Drie kernelementen van de uitvaart: beeld, tekst en muziek

1. Welk beeld?
2. Welke tekst?
3. Welke muziek?
   Welk instrument ?
   Welke muzikant?  

Now I walk in beauty,
beauty is before me,
beauty is behind me,
above and below me.

This ae nighte, this ae nighte,
Every nighte and alle,
Fire and sleet and candle-lighte,
May earth receive thy soul

When thou from hence away art past
Every nighte and alle
To Whinny-muir thou com’st at last
May earth receive thy soul

If ever thou gave hosen or shoon,
Every nighte and alle
Sit thee down and put them on;
May earth receive thy soul

If hosen or shoon thou ne’er gav’st nane
Every nighte and alle
The whinnes sall prick thee to the bare bane.
May earth receive thy soul

From Whinny-muir when thou art past,
Every nighte and alle
To Brig o’ Dread thou com’st at last;
May earth receive thy soul

If ever thou gave of thy silver and gold
Every nighte and alle
On Brig o’Dread thou’ll find foothold
May earth receive thy soul

If silver and gold thou ne’er gav’st nane
Every nighte and alle
Down thoul’t fall till the stars begain
May earth receive thy soul

From Brig o’ Dread when thou art past,
Every nighte and alle
To purging fire thou com’st at last;
May earth receive thy soul

If ever thou gave meat or drink,
Every nighte and alle
The fire shall never make thee shrink;
May earth receive thy soul

If meat or drink thou ne’er gav’st nane,
Every nighte and alle
The fire shall burn thee to the bare bane;
May earth receive thy soul

This ae nighte, this ae nighte,
Every nighte and alle
Fire and sleet and candle-lighte,
May earth receive thy soul

…

A possible translation:

On this night, on this night,
Every night and all,
Hearth and house and candle-light,
May earth receive your soul

When from here away you pass
To Thorny Moor you come at last;

If ever you gave hose or shoes,
Sit down and put them on;

If hose or shoes you gave none
The thorns shall prick you to the bare bone;

When you have passed Thorn Moor,
To Bridge of Dread you come at last;

If ever you gave of your silver and gold,
On Bridge of Dread you’ll find foothold,

If silver and gold you gave none
Down you’ll fall to where the stars begin

When you’ve passed the Bridge of Dread,
To purging fire you’ll come at last;

If ever you gave meat or drink,
The fire shall never make you shrink;

If meat or drink you gave none,
The fire shall burn you to the bare bone;

On this night, on this night,
Every night and all,
Hearth and house and candle-light,
May earth receive your soul

Commentaar:

De personificatie van de dood als Azrael, is een beeld waarmee ik me het meest thuis voel.
Toen ik naar mijn moeder ging in haar laatste momenten, had ik het gevoel dat die Engel bij me was om te helpen bij haar volgende reis.
Sindsdien ben ik die Engel steeds meer gaan waarderen als Helper.

‘I Walk in Beauty’ vind ik een mooi lied voor de afsluiting van een ritueel, deze heb ik ook gezongen bij de uitvaart van mijn moeder.

‘ Lyke Wake Dirge‘ heb ik recent ontdekt, het ritme en de melodie spreken me aan, maar in plaats van de traditionele Christelijke versie geef ik voorkeur aan de Reclaiming-versie omdat die beter past in mijn wereldbeeld.

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