When Death Comes

[A-Schwarzenegger]

When death comes
like the hungry bear in autumn;
when death comes and takes all the bright coins from his purse

to buy me, and snaps the purse shut;
when death comes
like the measles-pox;

when death comes
like an iceberg between the shoulder blades,

I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering:
what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness?

And therefore I look upon everything
as a brotherhood and a sisterhood,
and I look upon time as no more than an idea,
and I consider eternity as another possibility,

and I think of each life as a flower, as common
as a field daisy, and as singular,

and each name a comfortable music in the mouth
tending as all music does, toward silence,

and each body a lion of courage, and something
precious to the earth.

When it's over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.

When it is over, I don't want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.
I don't want to find myself sighing and frightened,
or full of argument.

I don't want to end up simply having visited this world.

--Mary Oliver

[KitchenWitch]

1. That is beautiful

:cry:

Thanks :hug:

[fleabert]

2. that's awesome.

and inspiring. thank you.

keep it kicked folks, it will be a busy day and this one needs to be read.

:kick:

[NashVegas]

3. Wow. Wow. Wow.

I know how she feels.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

4. kick for Andy, for all of us, because

"I don't want to end up simply having visited this world."

[redqueen]

5. .

:(

[In_The_Wind]

6. ~

[redqueen]

7. .