BURIAL AT SEA

The ashes of Thomas Skokam, 26 year old son of faculty member, Semester at Sea, Kathy Skokam, were spread upon the waters of the Indian Ocean on October 21, 2009, his mother’s birthday.
Friends, shipmates gathered at 6:30 AM on the aft deck of the ship as the sun was just breaking from behind the clouds. The ocean waters were be-calmed as the ship was passing over the equator on it’s northern journey. The horizon at every point of the compass was fringed with low, white clouds, like frosting on a cake.
As friends gathered the choir sang “Morning Has Broken” just as a bit of the rainbow appeared in the southern sky. Thomas’s favorite poem, by Robert Frost was read and a eulogy was spoken. The great ship reduced it’s speed and made a giant circle, calming the waters as Thomas’s mother released his ashes and a bouquet of flowers upon the sea.
As their names were read 50 other deceased friends and family members were
memorialized as flowers were cast onto the waters.
The choir sang a poem “Take me in” written by a friend of Thomas. A poem, “Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not dead, I do not sleep,” was read.
In a long moment of quietness and reflection the ship straightened her course and resumed her speed. Morning had broken------
I had brought my life as far as this,
Stone vowed to the liquid elements,
Further off than the Islands,
Lower than the waves.