When I Die

When I die, by all means, keep me alive in your heart. But don’t you dare spend the next five months looking at photographs of me, hoping that if you stare long enough, I will come back to life, because that only ever happens in movies. And don’t spend the entire day drinking your body weight in alcohol trying to forget that I am gone, because I am, but you know that we will see each other again soon. Please try not to grieve too much and make it sooner.

 

When I die, please don’t stand at the podium in the church and talk about how good of a person I was. Tell the congregation that I was a lousy person at the best of times; tell them that I made all the wrong choices and the worst mistakes. But make sure you let them know that you loved me regardless, because life is an endless, two-way street and it’s impossible not to take a wrong-turn every once in a while.

 

When I die, don’t allow my face to be painted with numerous make-up products. My whole life, I have hidden behind a mask of Rimmel and Maybelline. When I die, I want that mask to be wiped clean, I want the world to see the real me.

 

When I die, don’t wear black to my funeral. I want you to wear that ridiculous Mr. Blobby costume that you wore for Halloween last year because I want my funeral to be filled with laughter instead of mascara-stained tears. I don’t want my loved ones to be suffering while I’m living it up with God in Heaven.

 

When I die, do with my body what you wish. You can bury me six-feet under or let me go up in flames like someone’s back garden on Bonfire Night; I don’t care, because even though I can never be with you in body again, I will always be with you in spirit and mind. 

Reviews

[TL Boehm]

the second and third paragraphs really captured me. I just stopped and read them a few times. Wanting the mask to be wiped clean. Such a powerful statement.

[Natalia]

I really love this. Death is so much more complicated than the cliches and I love that you wrote about it in a different way from how people usually think of death. Well done!

[Brook]

You always write so beautiful, and you can feel the emotion. I love every bit you share! Never a dull poem with you, Laura. Gooood job.

[Ruth]

Wonderful emotion, as always - that is the trouble isn't it, the ones left behind have to grieve but forget the soul is eternal and infinite, I know the grief process well and it is hard to not lament, but this shows the positives to that, wonderful! x

[Ayushi]

So deep and powerful..
You have touched my heart with your words ♥

[David Burke]

This is wonderful hun, very well written.

p.s.

sorry I kinda fell off the map for awhile

[Aethereal]

And so, we each return to the “spirit” from which we sprang perhaps to spring again. Here’s a tiny gift poem for you:

Patients

All those buried in the hollow
wait for mourners soon to follow.
Life and death are both the same.
We return from whence we came.

[Lyn Anderson]

I like this, but it is unsettling, given your age. Does nothing to take away from the poem, though, well done.

[wordman]

and why is stuff like this on your mind a great write but pre mature I`m sure

[Luissanto]

Very raw, gritty and sincere. Your writing is real and unpretentious. It is refreshing to
find pieces like this... Great work.