Burial

I can't say my time here has been making a good impression on me, which is a pain after it's been so many years since I last visited. It feels like a lot has oddly changed around here. Though I tend to get distracted about how hot it is around here. I'm wondering if it has to do with the heatwave that was across Europe or if this how things always are during this season. Anywho...

One thing I remember from the last time that I was here was how I just so happened to pass a van that was carrying a coffin. During that time, I had joined in on the quick prayer made to the person.

Today, it just so happened again. I had heard something about someone having passed away, but when I was walking into the town square, I had once again just walked by some folks taking out the coffin from a white van, and were preparing to do a prayer. So I quickly made my ablution and joined in. Unlike that last time, however, once they took the coffin of the body back towards the van, I ended up following the van along with the many others who have gathered, slowly walking towards the graveyard of the village. Of course, there were no fancy suits or black outfits - mostly everyone there was wearing the most casual of clothes you could imagine.

I don't know who the person was, and I really didn't catch his name. I do remember hearing about how someone did pass away. That sort of small talk happened often enough. But I didn't know it was going to happen today. What I do know was that he unfortunately suffered an accident at a young age - I believe early 30s. Left behind loved ones.

We walked along a long dirt path for a short time, and the destination was the further side of the cemetery where the van would stop to unload the coffin one last time. I tried not to stand out too much, though my attire was probably of no help even when I took off my sun cap. I was distracted with how polished and scenic the area was. I'm either used to the desolate, simple graveyards in Canada or the interestingly intertwined sections in Turkiye that meshed both city and forest. But here was rather fancy, for a lack of a better word. I don't know if I ever really explored this side of town during my past visits, because I'm not sure I remember all these decorative trees. A lot of the markers were also fancy in their own right.

I followed the trail of people walking on the stone path towards the burial site. A bit into the middle of the yard out of the way of the path (the cemetery itself is very sizable and unused) and everyone would reach the hole. Around then I heard two small puppies running around somewhere, whining.

I was watching how they were setting up the grave. Deep down, they had already lowered the coffin. I got closer to take a look. One man was standing carefully around the wooden outline while others nearby helped. In a way, it felt like they too were trying to figure out how to work a burial. They had grabbed rather thick cuts of wood and were slanting it diagonally within the hole like a tent, providing the coffin some sort of shelter before settling bricks and parts thereof down against that layer of wood. It was kind of simple. But it looked sturdy.

After a while of this, there was a very quick prayer by the head, the one who was down securing the coffin. He got out and told the men nearby to start covering it up with the pile of dirt and their bare hands.

I had to pause for a moment, because I realized I had gotten very close at two meters away, and the recollection of how I read about these types of burials long ago was all coming back to me. So like the others, I started to do as much and grab handfuls of dirt to throw into the grave. Of course, it didn't last long when some others grabbed some shovels to do the job. With several men on it, they were filling that hole quickly.

Soon enough, the hole was filled, the pile of dirt having been reduced to a smear in the grass beside the grave. The head called out for prayer again, and we all sat for some time in recital, prayer, and afterwards, some words from him. Things about how we were able to perform this duty and give an acted epitaph. Something about the fact that we were all present for this and gave our time to the deceased, in hopes the same would be done for us. Much more profound things that I can't exactly replicate with my broken language skills, but which are also things I'll keep for myself. Rest in peace.

The whole thing was rather efficient and fast. I don't have much life experience, but I've never seen shovelling get done so quickly. But the whole thing was also quick in a beautiful way. From unloading the van to praying at the mosque, that was about ten minutes. From there to walking to the cemetery, that was maybe 20. I'd say the last 30 minutes were split half and half for the burial and the prayers by everyone. An ordeal that only took about an hour, at least from when I first saw the van. I pondered that and found it immensely beautiful.

I did also recognize that part of the time, the head was speaking Albanian. I think that maybe the deceased was living there, or partially came from there, or I'm not really sure. I'm not sure how many other people were there to only listen to that part of his speech, and whether he had to come all the way out here to lead the burial.

After it was done, I guess the others had stayed to clean up. Maybe they were going to place the marker - I'm not sure. I slowly decided to take my leave since there wasn't a point for someone like me to stay. At the very least, as far as I can remember, this may have been the first burial I've ever witnessed myself.

And life goes on.