Wednesday 19^th March 2014

While in Clarendon I went to visit the graves of two recently departed relatives, my Aunt who was 101 years old when she died and my nephew who was just 55.

As I sat on my Aunt’s grave in St Peter’s Church in Alley a gentleman rode past on a bicycle. He looked across at me and asked jokingly ‘Are you reasoning with the duppies?’*

‘Yes,’ I replied, ‘they seem to make more sense than the living.’

He laughed as he carried on his way.

I was struck with the beauty and tranquillity of my Aunt’s final resting place. Huge trees provided shade as well as food (if they needed it). There was an ackee tree laden with fruit a few yards from her grave. Herons stood respectfully to one side. It was hard to imagine that in other parts of the island people were in conflict.

I next visited my Nephew’s grave. A different affair altogether. He’s buried in the yard of the house in which he grew up ,along with several others. He was surrounded by orange trees. Seems like the needs of the dead are well catered for.

*Duppies = ghosts