COVID and reopening school in January

We find ourselves once again threatened by a resurgence of the coronavirus, possibly in a new and more easily transmitted form. It is quite clear that South Africa is into the fourth wave of coronavirus infections, probably exacerbated by the new Omicron variant. It seems also that the fourth wave has begun here in Zambia and it seems likely that case numbers rise rapidly in the next few weeks. Our board COVID Task Force (CTF) has been meeting and will continue to meet to assess the situation and to see how best to proceed. We are part of the national effort to control the virus and will continue to work in full cooperation with government directives.

DeepSpace Zambia

If you are here in Zambia and looking for something to do, I happened to encounter James Modimakwane who has turned his passion for astronomy into a small business.

Secondary STUCO (Student Council) President, Vice-President and MS Representative

 Phase 1 of the elections are over. Congratulations to ........

Happy Holidays

 Wishing you safe and happy holidays during this festive season and a prosperous and healthy 2022!

IGCSE Arts Salon - EVENING EVENT CANCELLED

Zambia-UN day highlights

Everyone Has A Story is ISL’s 2021-2022 theme, and it has been wonderful to see how different departments are interpreting it through the wide range of activities within, as well as outside, the classrooms. 

This theme was represented through our annual Zambia-UN Day celebrations. Please enjoy watching the Parade of Nations as well as highlights and additional videos through the links below.

Primary school transformed!

 From bare bricks to a fabulous array of colours! 

Walking in this morning was an absolute delight! Our Primary corridors were vibrant with colour radiated from Student Artwork. The beauty of the various hues combined together added cheer and lifted spirits ( definitely mine:)). 😍

Secondary STUCO Exec Com nominations and elections: Students get involved!

The Student Council is made up of an Executive Committee and Class Representatives (Homeroom/Class “Reps”) elected by their peers from Years 7 through 13. The Class Reps were elected at the beginning of the year. On Thursday December 9th 2021 the Secondary students will elect their Executive Committee members who will serve from January 2022- December 2023. The Executive Committee is comprised of:

Reading

How can we help improve the love for reading in our children?😕 ( this is my confused look!))

Reading is an important life skill and funnily enough, I do not think we have found a way out of reading just yet. 😉

Board Meeting Update - November 2021

The Board met on Tuesday 23 November where the Head of School and the different committees presented their progress towards achieving the school goals.

School enrollment continues to increase, bringing the total number of students to 641 and reaching this school year's target.

Early Christmas!!

 Cheer and laughter rang out loud this morning during break!

U-19 & U-14 LISL Basketball

On Saturday, November 20, the ISL basketball teams had a chance to participate in the LISL (Lusaka International Schools League) U-19 and U-14 Basketball tournaments.

U-14 Boys team - Coach Mr. Banda

7 teams from 3 schools participated - ISL A, ISL B, ISL C, AISL A, AISL B, LICS A, and LICS B.

Braai Back Better! Save the date

 Action and preparation!

Year 13 Writing Day

Year 13 students spent their day today working commitedly on their Extended Essay and Internal Assignment at designated areas. Diploma Programme students writing the Extended Essay were assigned targets to complete by their teachers while the course students worked on their Internal Assignments. The student's Extended Essay journy started in March 2021 and is now nearing completion.

Primary Student Council's First Fundraiser

Congratulations to the Primary Student Council on their first fundraiser for this year. The Student Council organised an 'Ice Cool' sale where they sold ice lollies, Mazoe slushy, popcorn and lemonade. This was much needed considering the sweltering temperatures that we are currently experiencing. 

Year 13's successful Silver Duke of Edinburgh practice expedition

After a very successful Year 12 Gold DoE expedition last week, our Year 13's also successfully returned from their practice expedition yesterday afternoon. Despite the extreme heat our students braved the rough terrain and functioned efficiently to complete their expedition without any serious incidents. This would not have been possible without great team cohesion. Well done!

LISL U-16 & U-13 Volleyball, Round 2

On Saturday, November 13, the ISL volleyball teams participated in the second round of the LISL (Lusaka International Schools League) U-16 and U-13 Volleyball tournaments.

LISL Sr. Swimming Round 2

On Friday, November 12, AISL hosted the second round of LISL (Lusaka International Schools League) Swimming Gala for U-19, U-16 and U-14 teams. 

4 schools participated in this Gala - ISL, AISL, Baobab, and LICS. 2 swimmers from each school could take part in each race and points were given based on the place swimmers got.

Farewell ISL

Dear Parents

‘My story’ with ISL began in 1993, and I often wonder what stories I would hear if the walls of this school could speak:) 

Since its inception, ISL has remained one of the most reputable educational institutions in Lusaka - despite several trials and tribulations through the years. Even during the current pandemic, we endeavoured together to ensure ISL rose above the difficult situation everyone faced. Our success is attributed to the commitment, support, and dedication of all ISL stakeholders- staff, students, and parents. 

Positive feedback from the IB for our recent authorization, growing student numbers, excellent  IBDP and IGCSE  results from students who have been with us since Primary school, most sought-after online programme during the pandemic - are but a few of the success stories we have recently achieved.

I hold my head high with pride to be part of such a prestigious institution.

After 28 years here, I now write to bid adieu at the end of this academic year (so you have not seen the last of me just yet ;)).

I move from my “Home” in Zambia to begin life in my country which I will need to make my “Home”.

PTA Executive Committee - 2021 to 2023

At the Annual General Meeting of the Parent Teachers' Association held on Tuesday, 2nd November, parents formed a new PTA Executive Committee, who met on Friday 5th November for an organizational meeting. In the said meeting, they elected a Chairperson and filled other key positions. The members of the new PTA Executive are:

1. Gloria Mussa (Chairperson)
2. Victor Owoko (Vice-Chairperson)
3. Yamini Patel (Secretary)
4. Gilbert Chishala Chama (Vice-Secretary)
5. Julie Doherty (Treasurer)
6. Yogita Ahuja Massand (Events Coordinator)
7. Tonia Lachotzki (Welfare Coordinator)
8. Jasmine Liu
9. Lisa Lei
10. Jacqueline Chilela
11. Luwizya Mwamulima
12. Mulenga Bwalya - Chivuno

Braai-back-better!!!

On 3rd December 2021, the PTA will host a family barbecue from 16:00 hours to 19:00 hours at the Amphitheater area. All members of the ISL community are welcome to attend. It should prove delightful for ISL families to get together after a long spell of no school social gatherings, to get to see and meet with familiar faces, and also to get acquainted with unfamiliar faces. There will be music, good food and beverages (a cash bar will be available), and in-person conversations with families you maybe haven't seen in a while because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Please come in numbers for the ''braai-back-better'' barbecue! It is guaranteed to be a pleasant experience.

On an additional note, The PTA is calling for food vendors to set up stalls with stacks of delicious barbecue fare for attendees. If this is something you can do, Jacky and Yogita want to hear from you! You can either reach Jacky on 0955876740 or Yogita on 0974823712

Health

Covid-19 cases are reducing in Zambia and as ISL we are gradually making an effort to get back to normal but will continue to observe all Covid-19 precautions, for some medical conditions the 48 hour rule has been eased. The school was inspected on 28th October 2021 and we were allowed to re-arrange sitting arrangements where each pupil will have their own desk facing the other pupil and maintaining a distance of one metre.

Beacon Scholarship for High School students and graduating class 2022

ISL is proud to partner with the prestigious Beacon Scholarship programme for students with strong leadership qualities. The Beacon Scholarship is a changemaker programme that provides financial assistance to ISL High School students and to ISL graduates, enabling them to access undergraduate programmes of study at world class universities in the UK. 

House Captains and Class Representatives 2021-2022

Here are our House Captains and Class Representatives this year, 2021-2022. Thanks to all the students who ran for these positions.  Congratulations to captains and class reps. We look forward to your enthusiastic support of the school this year.

Meet Helen Banda - ISL Board Member 2021

Helen is Deputy General Counsel in the Bank Secretariat Department of the Bank of Zambia. She holds an LL.B degree from the University of Zambia, obtained in 2000, qualified to practice law in June 2001 from ZIALE and further holds a Master in Laws (LL.M) degree in Corporate Governance, Financial Regulation and Economic Law obtained from the University of London in the year 2009 as a Graça Machel Scholar. Helen is also a Chartered Secretary, registered under the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA), of the United Kingdom. Helen has a daughter in Year 4. In addition to being a Board member, she is the Board's Human Resources & Staff Relations Committee Vice-Chair.

Meet Oluwaseun (Seun) Aladesanmi - ISL Board Member 2021

Dr Oluwaseun Aladesanmi is a public health specialist with about two decades of experience designing, implementing and coordinating complex public health programs across multiple countries in Africa. Seun has a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London, and a PhD in Public Health. Seun has worked and consulted for a number of international organizations including Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), the International Centre for AIDS Care and Treat Programs (ICAP) - Columbia University, Axios Foundation, UNICEF, UN Women and the African Union amongst others. He also served as Assistant Professor of Public Health at Texila American University Zambia. He currently works as a Global Associate Program Director, Maternal Newborn Health for Clinton Health Access Initiative; supporting the implementation of a Sexual Reproductive Maternal and Newborn Health (SRMNH) program with focus in Southern and Eastern Africa. Seun is currently the Chair of the COVID -19 Task Force at ISL. Seun has lived in Zambia since 2017 and has two children enrolled at ISL, in Years 1 and 7, respectively.

Meet Camille Wauters - ISL Board Member 2021

Camille Wauters is a human rights activist who worked for 15 years for women's rights and gender equality all over the world. She worked 10 years as programme manager for the United Nations on different programmes to empower women and girls. In her former position, she was specializing in planning and monitoring. She enthusiastically took on the role of Board member to bring her expertise to good use in the school. She has three (pre-)teen daughters who are all enrolled in ISL. She is currently not professionally employed and fully enjoys her new life as a full-time mother. Camille also serves as the Chair of the Board Policy & Planning Committee.

Meet Umar Anwer - ISL Board Member 2021

Umar is Team Leader and part of the Senior Leadership Team at the British High Commission, Lusaka. He is a professionally experienced and internationally qualified Chartered Management Accountant with over 20 years of global managerial experience in finance and programme management in the UK and Overseas, He holds an internationally recognised accounting qualification (CIMA); a degree in BA (Hons) Business Administration with Finance and a Masters (MSc) in International Development.  Umar has a significant amount of overseas exposure and experience of working autonomously and leading finance and programme teams in challenging environments within Africa, the Middle East and South Asia as well as experience of working with the UN, World Bank, NATO and other multilateral and bilateral organisations in different environments. Umar and his family moved to Zambia in 2019 with 3 children aged 15, 6 and 4 attending ISL. In addition to serving on the Board of Governors, Umar is a member of the Board Estates & Projects Committee. 

Meet Haggai Simpungwe - ISL Board Member 2021

Haggai is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years extensive experience in financial reporting, strategy formulation, risk management and compliance. He holds a BSc in Accounting, a Masters in Business Administration and is a fellow of both ACCA and ZICA. Haggai has served in various roles including heading the internal audit department and the finance department of Seed Co Zambia Limited. Haggai has work experience working with multi-sectorial cultures in Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, training finance staff and setting up accounting systems and accounting control environments for different businesses. Haggai is currently working as a partner at Mark Daniels Chartered Accountants. Haggai Simpungwe: Board member, member of the Board Tender Committee and Chair of the Board Finance & Revenue Committee at ISL.

Getting to know Thomson Phiri - ISL Board Chairperson 2021

Thomson is a senior finance executive with over sixteen years of experience in leading finance functions at different stages in a company’s life cycle. He has a background in corporate governance, risk management, strategic and business planning, and financial-related fields including taxation. He has proven competencies at both strategic and operational levels. Thomson combines clarity of strategic vision with exceptional focus to set and achieve results. He currently works as a Chief Financial Officer. Thomson has been a member of the Board for 3 years now, serving 1 year as the Finance and Revenue Committee Chair, and currently as Board Chair and Vice-Chair of the Finance & Revenue Committee. He has two children enrolled at ISL, a daughter and a son in Years 6 and 5, respectively.

Getting to know Emily H Kasoma - ISL Board Vice-Chairperson 2021

Emily has been living in Zambia since 2010, with her husband and two children, Tessa (10) and Caleb (7), both of whom have been at ISL since Nursery.   She has been working with the UN in nutrition since 2014, and currently works remotely for the World Food Programme in Rome. Her focus is on working with business to reduce malnutrition, and she is passionate about food and making sure that all people have enough nutritious food to eat. Her previous experience focused within the public health space. Emily has Masters degrees in Business Administration and Public Health from the University of Michigan. Emily also serves as Co-Chair of the Board Tender Committee, in addition to her role as Board Vice-Chairperson. 

Getting to know Dr Abidemi Coker - ISL Board Member 2021

Abidemi Coker works for the World Bank at the Zambia Country Office. She mainly supports the Keeping Girls in School component, and with the Ministry of Gender and Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, works on systems strengthening. Abidemi previously worked with issues of democracy, governance and human rights with the Finnish Embassy. She holds a PhD in Social and Public Policy and an MA in Development Cooperation and has a background in urban social policy and community engagement. In her spare time, Abidemi enjoys the company of her vivacious kids and tries to improve her yogic experience.

Getting to know Maureen Mersmann - ISL Board Member 2021

Maureen Mersmann is the Partnerships Specialist at UNICEF Zambia. Her background is primarily in resource mobilization, international development and public health. Born and raised in the midwestern United States, she has lived and worked in southern Africa since 2010 and came to Zambia in 2016. Maureen holds an MA in International Public Administration from the Korbel School at the University of Denver in the USA. Maureen and her husband have two daughters at ISL, in years 7 and 9. Besides her role as a Board member, Maureen is the Vice-Chairperson for both the Board Marketing & Strategy Committee and the Board Policy & Planning Committee. 

Getting to know Basjan van As - ISL Board Member 2021

Basjan van As is a Project/Development Manager, who also does quantity surveying functions and has 15 years’ various industry-related experience due to all the projects and clients he has worked for. Experience gained includes but is not limited to: development/project management, running of construction projects, cost reporting, measuring of site works, management for the checking and recommendation of final accounts and variation orders, compiling closeout reports, contractual claims, procurement and management of Scope, Time & Cost. He is a proud parent of two children at ISL. His family has been at the school since 2015. He joined the Board because he is interested in redeveloping the school so that teachers and students enjoy the facilities that they deserve. Basjan serves as Chairperson of the Board's Estates & Projects Committee.

Getting to know Peter Cottan - ISL Board Member 2021

Peter Cottan has been the MD for various leading Agribusiness Institutions, such as Bata Farms and Lendor Limited. More recently, Mr Cottan was also at the helm of then Zambia’s leading Milling Company; National Milling, where he served as MD. 

Mr Cottan’s visionary guidance led National Milling to become the Market Leader in grain products in the Country. During his time at National Milling, he was the Chairman of the Millers Association of Zambia (MAZ) and Chairman of the Anti-Smuggling Committee under the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) through the ZNFU Agribusiness Chamber. 

Mr Cottan is currently the Treasurer of the Millers Association of Zambia and a Trustee of the Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM). He joined Superior Milling as MD in October 2013. He has achieved great success in his career, having been instrumental in positioning the Zambian Economy in as far as Agro-Processing and Value Addition is concerned. His lobbying and assertiveness in promoting value addition and import substitution have been his forte through key policymakers in Government. 

IBDP CAS Cushion Making experience

One of our favorite memories from primary school was when we would sit on the carpet at the end of the day and our teacher would tell us a story. We used to make ourselves feel at home, on the different coloured cushions and beanbags; carefree, and happy. It was comforting to lounge with our friends and not have to worry about a thing! As we have been completing our IB (and our school lives) we have been reminiscing on the joys of primary school and it inspired us to create cushions for our younger peers! 

Fabulous Friday!

 Wonderful things to report today from Primary school!

Year 12 Duke of Edinburgh Gold practice expedition

It was fabulous to see twenty eight Year 12 students participate in the Silver DoE trip that commenced on Monday 8th November with an in school training on orienteering and trekking with Mwaba Mwila adventures personnel. The group then set off early morning the next day at around 6.30 am on a bus ride to reach their destination just outside Kafue town to begin their expedition. 

International Remembrance Exhibition

For the 11 November IGCSE students were involved in an international project of Remembrance. We were joined in this reflection by two other schools: Lyng Hall School in the UK and Tagore International School, Vasant Vihar in India. It was an incredibly powerful experience to not only reflect on the philosophies that surround remembrance and conflict; but additionally to share with other communities and learn how their cultural perspectives shape their own understanding.

Each student was challenged to select a piece of art that responds to the question: Why should we remember WWI and WWII? 

On Tuesday 9^th November, a panel of international judges read all submissions from across all three countries. I am pleased to announce that the following students from ISL were selected as finalists:

1. Timuna Kalaluka

2. Sodal Saleban

3. Owain Holdway

4. Kriss Baskevics

5. Chiedza Madzima

6. Yoletta Shalumba

The following students from ISL were also shortlisted: Daniel Dudhia, Leah Kumitz, Masiliso Nakazwe, Filip Boltar, Rudo Banda, Yordan Gatev, Zahraa Patel. 

On Remembrance Day, the finalists from each school had the opportunity to participate in an International Seminar. This was an inspiring discussion to be involved with – all students shared insightful observations and evaluative conclusions to some thought-provoking questions about the role History and Art play in our collective legacies. It was awe inspiring to listen to a group of young people debate and discuss some profound philosophies. We believe it to be the beginning of a number of collaborations.

The Art Speaks competition was an incredibly meaningful project which allowed our students to collaborate across continents and engage with some deeply challenging questions around war and conflict, and their legacy in the modern world. When we started this project, we set ourselves very ambitious goals. We wanted to provide a forum for students to engage with ideas around global remembrance. Our goal was to expand their intellectual horizons and help them develop a more complex understanding of the past. 

‘What’s this? Do you want to understand my past?

It’s footprint in our today?

You are the ones who will become our legacy.’

This quote from Zeid Elmesalati’s poem I think perfectly encapsulates how well our students rose to the challenge we tasked them with. The students’ works provide us with a rich and diverse set of ideas and perspectives about remembrance. What’s more, in many ways they help us establish a dialogue with the past. ‘Poetry helps us to humanise the past’, I recall one student reflecting in the post-project seminar. What I would add is that it also helped us build bridges in the present by developing a greater awareness and deeper understanding of ourselves, our heritage and its global legacy. 

Comments from the International Panel of Judges:

'I have always believed that Literature is a powerful medium to humanise the lives shaped by history, to unearth the individuals, moving beyond mere facts and statistics. This project was a beautiful way for students to explore complex ideas and consider how art (in different forms) can enable them to express their theories. Creatively they were able to deconstruct what values truly matter.'

Ms. Lisa Hagan, Director of English, UK

The finalists' work was displayed in the UK, India and Zambia simultaneously.

The finalists' work was displayed in the UK, India and Zambia simultaneously.

“The Art Speaks project was a unique opportunity to collaborate both across departments and across continents.  It gave us an opportunity to link Historical facts with personal stories in the service of the important act of remembrance. The students responded in a variety of ways and I was very impressed with the thoughtful consideration they gave to the topic.  Choosing the winners with the other judges was incredibly difficult because the quality of the work was so high.  I was blown away by both the artistry and the depth of the responses. It was incredible to think that students so young could produce work of such skill and maturity.  

I was also incredibly proud and impressed during the seminar which the winners took part in.  The consideration they gave to the complex topics which many adults couldn’t comprehend was breath taking. It made me so proud of Lyng Hall and gave me hope for the future in the hands of these considerate young citizens.”
Mrs. Jane Burton, Director of Humanities

A virtual collection of the students’ responses can be found here, and for now the students will begin working on an international publication of the work from all three schools.

A small selection of some student works:

One of many by Timuna Kalaluka, International School of Lusaka, Zambia

He died in Stalingrad

Blood seeping into soil

Watering the plants of the motherland

And mixing with sweat and oil

The gears of war keep turning around

Greased by the tears of a mother’s despair

Her son dead at 26 from a Schmeisser round

As the scent of smoke and pain lingers in the air

Bodies dragged away

By comrades, and brothers-in-arms

As they place the corpses down to lay

Putting aside any past qualms

He lies in a graveyard

With Slavs, Kurds, Tatars, and Tajiks

As result of a psychopathic facade

The Molotov-Ribbentrop pact turned tragic

He answered the call of conscription

To defend the land given to his kin

To a war without jurisdiction

A fate his wife would be bereft in

The fuel of desperation

Motored the motivated defenders

Of fear they lacked the slightest inclination

As they faced the Nazi parties’ members

The onslaught continued until there was one

As the solitary soldier made a last stand

With honour and glory he was finally overrun

As his weapon fell from his hand

His eyes were glazed when the reinforcement came

But the tremor of footsteps gave him solace

In his final breath he had completed his aim

As the heroes' names were sung in a chorus

The people sing tales of sacrifice

Of grief and gratitude

Of a fight in which cowardice could not suffice

Of war never seen at such amplitude

The nations' greatest triumph

Its greatest loss

Maintaining its existence

At immense cost

The debt of their strength

On our shoulders weigh

Every year on November 11th

By honouring them, it we can repay

He was one of many soldiers

With one of many widows

One of many sacrifices

One of many heroes

One of many memories to keep alive.

By Owain Holdway, International School of Lusaka, Zambia

An autumn breeze lifts a wisp of loose grass high into the air

Four crosses side by side read the names of fallen men

Three women reap the rewards of the now ghost trodden field

A rejuvenation taking place during this Autumn yield.

A baby wails it’s earsplitting cry out into the expanse  

The stumps of trees are bypassed, but it's caught on barbed wire fence

So many men did give their lives on this field now ghost trodden

So many sacrifices though none still are forgotten

Four years of hell on earth are gone but vividly remembered

Three women since nineteen-fourteen had lives always endangered

Their husbands both alive and passed know many fields ghost trodden

But sons and daughters after them will know of wars more modern

The sky, it seems to have calmed like just after a storm

It coats the fields, the trees, the towns that are tragically war torn

These broken homes and battlefields now lay home to ghosts

The fallen men and women we must remember most

The hues of blue pass over white and slanted crosses

A perpetual reminder of our many, many losses

Once home to living souls the field now holds just three women

All to reap the rewards that the field to them is giving

If not to respect the dead, respect the change they caused

Entire cultures, politics, ideas newly formed

The world will always know of fields infinitely ghost trodden

Let us hope that less blood is shed and those passed are not forgotten

So barbed wire, crosses, people all remind us still

That these wars affect most everyone not just those that they kill.

By Blessy Susan Mathew, Lyng Hall School, UK

When I came to consciousness,

All I saw were gravestones.

Each one stamped with the identity of 

a nameless pawn.

Together they merged into a khaki green,

all facing a lonesome wire statue

With an unidentifiable face drained of thoughts.

I ask myself ‘why?’

It was as if there was no life left here

No one to talk to, no one to console 

the bottomless pit in my mind

Never letting out a ‘I’m home!’ again.

Several months passed like this, 

Several silent weeks went by 

while I incessantly bombarded my surroundings 

with what was left of my sanity.

I ask myself ‘why?’

However, on a certain day 

my endless interrogation lead to the church bells ringing

Then an overwhelming presence stood there

People, how long ago has it been 

since i last saw someone, walking and talking

For how long i don't know 

They stayed close by, eyes closed and left as soon as they came.

All that is left was me, the gravestones and a wire statue.

This time a sombre expression was hung there 

I understood all too well that expression

As I was feeling it too

I ask myself ‘why?’

As I stay in the darkness

Every year or so 

The same people with the familiar faces visit

And went on 100 or so times after that

This time, a child, as small as the forest of gravestones

Behind him was the girl that visited me 

For as long as my memory serves me  

Smiling with a letter of a variety of fancy lettering

I ask myself ‘why?’

I would have started crying if i had tears to shed

Full of joyous moments was the letter addressed to me

However the heavens cried for me

As did the wire statue, leaking drops of rain 

from where the eyes would have been

Why had it been so lonely all the time?

Why was this so unbearable?

Why did happiness only appear on a single day>

Why has this become my fate?

All that is left was me, the gravestones and sir wire statue

Without words did we communicate

A hint of concern flew by with the thought

Was this it?

Was this what I have to bear with for many more years

Talking to myself and a wire statue

I spent all this time, waiting for human connection

That I have resulted to madness

What even is this statue doing here?

Why is it here of all places?

Was it built here to mock the dead 

Saying ‘you'll never be able to see what I see’

Or is it to guard us from the evil that lurks past the gates

Was it even built for us, the dead?

Was it to serve as a reminder of the living instead

To never forget why we, the dead, are here in the first place

Many gravestones stamped with the identities 

of those buried below them

None of which I can recall 

From when I gained consciousness to now.

x