Meditation XVII: No man is an island...

[Bluebear]

In a recently locked post, there was a response that they did not know the dead actress, and people die, so it's not news. Perhaps. But it reminded me of John Donne's indispensable advice:

All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated...As therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come: so this bell calls us all: but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness....No man is an island, entire of itself...any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. This is so beautiful, and true.

If only we could get our "leaders" to remember it.

K&R

:cry:

[highplainsdem]

2. K&R. Thank you.

[hlthe2b]

3. A favorite of mine...

:thumbsup:

[Starry Messenger]

4. Thank you n/t

[Warpy]

5. Donne was right

Everyone who leaves us leaves a hole in the fabric of life. New people arriving will eventually weave other areas, but the parts full of holes can never be repaired.

It's especially sad when a young person dies, one who hadn't lived to fulfill her potential as a human being and gained the wisdom only age can possibly confer.

It's sad news. It has been overdone, though, and I wish my fellow board members would look a little more closely for duplicate threads.

[proteus_lives]

6. Always loved that quote.