Keening

Keening is a profound expression of grief or lamentation, often articulated through wailing or weeping, typically sung in a mournful tone. This form of vocal expression has its roots in various cultures, serving as a communal act of mourning and remembrance, embodying sorrow and the human experience of loss.

Keening meaning with examples

• At the funeral, the air was thick with emotions as relatives gathered, their voices intertwining in a soft keening, each note resonating with the collective sorrow of their shared loss, allowing them to grieve together, even as they found solace in the memory of their beloved family member.
• In ancient Ireland, women often performed a keening at the graveside, their voices rising and falling like the winds, honoring the deceased with deliberately mournful tones, creating an echo of grief that spoke to the bereaved as much as it celebrated the life that had passed.
• The artist chose to incorporate keening into her performance piece to illustrate the depths of human sorrow, her haunting voice layered with echoes that traveled through the gallery, drawing viewers into a visceral experience of mourning that transcended spoken language.
• During the wake, the soft keening of the eldest daughter could be heard throughout the house, a heartfelt lament that expressed tradition and love, allowing all who entered to feel the weight of loss while also embracing the warmth of shared remembrance.
• As the storm raged outside, the distant sound of keening broke through, a haunting reminder that grief, much like nature, has a voice of its own, capable of reaching our hearts in the most unexpected moments, flooding our thoughts with memories and emotions.