In Death He Lives

Funny how we are so ill prepared for death.

In Death He Lives

The blow was cruel,

bludgeoning you

when already felled.

I felt the theft

of Uncle John

tear the last flesh from you

and I was too far away

to hold your tears.

Seventy-one years of love

your heart bled

with wet pain,

cheeks soaked

in the sad acidic sting of loss.

The cloak of rage and disappointment

pulled close across your breast

as grief gripped your heart

in such a cold and callous calling.

But my Angel

is not death our only truth,

our one certain destination?

Should we not cast-out

dismay and disbelief and

celebrate the long giving nature

of your much beloved patriarch?

04/05/13

Reviews

[Mark]

We don't like thinking about death, even when it is imminent. Strong portrayal of grief and the anger of loss. I was surprised by most of these images... 'In death he lives' probably hit me hardest. A line which could mean many things I think.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Mark. The title is about keeping the joy alive in what someone has shared with us and that when someone dies they live on in our memories and often what we took from their being.

[Frieda P]

We celebrate their lives in our mourning, it takes time to overcome the sadness, if ever, and to get to the point where our thoughts go only to their giving nature and lives fulfilled. I felt this one John. There is no way to prepare for death, sadly. Good read.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I think deaths are different. Your sister was a needless death of someone with many years ahead and that part is sad. I think we dwell overly on grief especially with those taken in later life, instead of celebrating what we still have of them. Thank you Frieda.

[Frieda P]

I will not argue with you on that one John, but I imagine they feel just as heavily as I feel the suicide of my sister, death is death, those people are gone forever, no matter how it came to be, and we've spent a lifetime with them, sorry for your loss.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

But we can move to celebrate the many things they leave for us in memories.

[Frieda P]

I agree, it's not that easy, some of us get stuck...I do celebrate her life daily but the pain comes crashing when I most remember she's not here, I still pick up the phone to call her...

[John Alexander McFadyen]

In doing so you let her 'killer' continue to abuse you. She would never want that for you. Release yourself from the slavery and guilt and use her to make you strong.

[Frieda P]

Sigh, I know, you must admit I've gotten better...it's really difficult, the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with, and you know that says a lot knowing 'our' history...

[John Alexander McFadyen]

I have noticed but it would be so perfect to effect your release and let you sing in your dear heart about your sister and realise you were not to blame for being abused and for her death. Continuing the pain means he keeps getting that thing he wanted.

[Frieda P]

:/