Death Would Not Stop For Me II

In August 2009, my paternal grandmother passed away and in December 2009 my mother's aunt also passed away. They went peacefully.

Death would not stop for me alone.

Instead you take from me.

Once, twice, thrice and now a fourth,

The number of times you have taken from me.

These last two times,

I did not cry as before.

Between the first and these two,

Nine years have past.

I weep for the lost of our loved ones.

But I know the better place they are in.

I watch from the shadows,

Like the shinigami that follows me,

When the time comes for my loved ones.

But it all reminds to live in the now,

To dream of the future,

And to remember the past,

To laugh until you cry of happiness.

Death would not stop for me alone,

Because I will not stop for Death.

Author's Note

Once: Nanny, my maternal grandmother
Twice: Nanny's middle sister, my great aunt
Thrice: Grandma, my paternal grandmother
Fourth: Nanny's oldest sister, my other great aunt

Reviews

[Mark]

Great adaptation of those famous lines from Emily Dickenson (although she was speaking of her own death, not a flood of bereavement such as you describe).

This rang a chord with me, as many of my best works are of the eulogy sort. (See, of you wish, To Gizmo #1 and To Gizmo #2, Reminiscences, JBKOde, IF; there are others.)

Lastly, what is "shinigami"?

[Sasha]

I like the defiant attitude in this. The last two lines were my favorite. I appreciate the way you remain resilient even though death has taken from you four times and your positive attitude at the end. Good job.