No tears at my farewell

Enjoy life. Take every opportunity to tell someone you love them.

                      No tears at my farewell

When my body becomes tired
The blood doesn't want to flow.
Allow me to fall into a peaceful sleep.
Death will come when it desired.

At my farewell
I want no tears.
I don't want a fancy box,
With a stone describing  my name and my time of death.

I have been to the farewells of others.
So many people cry tears for lost friends,
who are beginning a new journey.

Allow the heat of fire to disburse me to heaven or hell?
Gather up my ashes.
Toss me into the great ocean.

I don't want to waste any more land.
I abused kind Earth for too long already.

If you want to present me with  memorial.
Plant trees, so many trees.
I may come back to see you there.

You may find my spirit by the sea or
roaming the great forest.
I want to roam in the beauty of nature forever.

I want a good death like the Vikings or the Native Americans
of old.

Build a bridge in between the trees.
Let my final resting place be the green earth.
 
Send my body into the sea on a burning raft.
Allow my body to escape into the gentle winds of the water.

Leaving no tears.

I want a Gypsy  funeral
Dancing, talking and remembering the good days.
A grave is left to leave sad memories only.

Wherever I land
Perhaps heaven or hell?
I will sing and dance
Raise  more cane.

Life is to be lived
Not to be depressed or afraid.
Then lay down and die at birth.

Suicide don't scare me
Being sickly done.

All of us must take the final journey.
I'm not afraid for my sake.
For I know how I felt at my brother's funerals.

I had no right to cry for them.
I learned later.
We should have remembered the good times and laughter.
Not the tear and heart break of a funeral.

I'm dreaming of a ship.
The flames are strong.
I will watch from a distance.
Friend drinking strong tequila.
They sent me off with a prayer
and a wish.
I will find some calm and peace.

Plant the trees by the water.
I will come and sit with you.

Live hard, celebrate being alive.

                              Coyote
                           1990

Author's Note

I wrote this 20 years ago after my brother's death. I learn life isn't no guarantee. Best tell the people you love them often. Laughing and singing will leave you with a complete and full life. Being pissed off will blind you to the the good around you. Any mistakes. I would appreciate the help. Never too old to learn.

Reviews

[barleygirl]

This is so beautiful & brilliant, there are no words to comment . . . just sorry (((HUGS))) about the circumstances of your brothers' deaths (I remember this happening twice in your family?) I have the same feelings about when I die, but you've expressed it with much more natural honor & grace than anything I ever thought about. This is such a beautiful tribute & reminder to all of us (((HUGS)))

[Coyote Poetry]

I appreciate the comment my friend. Death is just another journey for us.

[beautiful disaster]

I have foudn that being pissed at the fact that people have gone in this world and being that they have may fucked up in there life doesnt help you by being pissed at life in geneeral because it just makes you miserable.

[Shannon Math]

Brilliant piece. Loved it a lot. :) keep writing.!?

[MiidniightSoul]

I loved this. This is a true beauty and words aren't enough to describe this. Very beautifully and well written. It has a deep meaning with a nice flow. Powerful, touching, heartfelt. You are very descriptive and you make the poem come alive. The message in your poem is loud and clear. Simply brilliant.

[An owl on the moon]

What a depth of introspection, showing the true celebration of life, and the peace that will come when those numbered days are drawn. You give us all a path of passion to strive for..

[Cocoacandy]

i really like this poem. i think it turned out well... made me realize that maybe thats a better way to go than the "traditional" way... so good work, keep it up! thanks for sharing it!
*cocoabean*

[R Lee]

I like your work. It tells a good story. My work can be a little hokey sometimes. I also suffered losses. Mine happened at once back in 1979-80. My daughter, then my mother and father. I guess that's why my work can be a bit depressing but it is good therapy for me. Good luck. Looking forward to reading more of your writings. Russell

[Zoe Jay]

This is well written and I totally agree. The best memorial is the celebration of life and the great cycle of nature. Death is but a transition. This is a well written and noble poem.

[A.hasnain]

I absolutely loved this, by far my favourite read of all the poems I've read on this website. I think you depict life so well in such strong, relative words, it stuns me. It really stuns me

[xjust-for-me.x]

This is a wonderful and heartfelt write..and I agree with what you wrote down.

[E.H. Monroe]

The gathering at trees for rememberance.
A funeral pyre for a warrior poet.
Quite fitting. You have the old world wisdom of a Sherman Alexie and the foresight of the totem that bore him. The simple man. The everyman. The kind of cat that sees the world in poem to the point where pre writing is meaningless because he creates while he views.

Some people pop meaningless s**t for the joy of others, you spin tales for others to learn.

Goddamn impressive.