Epitaph

Recently at a funeral I was attending, I noticed the reverend led the service from his perspective and not from a broad universal perspective. In my opinion and some may not agree but something so highly important when we are working with those who have loss someone--we do not need to preach a message at a life celebration or memorial. We need to praise of the life we are gathered to celebrate. This poem stays with me--- and is something I think is simply beautifully a spoken word and share with those who are in the waves of loss.

Epitaph

By Merrit Malloy

When I die

Give what’s left of me away

To children

And old men that wait to die.

And if you need to cry,

Cry for your brother

Walking the street beside you.

And when you need me,

Put your arms

Around anyone

And give them

What you need to give to me.

I want to leave you something,

Something better

Than words

Or sounds.

Look for me

In the people I’ve known

Or loved,

And if you cannot give me away,

At least let me live on in your eyes

And not your mind.

You can love me most

By letting

Hands touch hands,

By letting bodies touch bodies,

And by letting go

Of children

That need to be free.

Love doesn’t die,

People do.

So, when all that’s left of me

Is love,

Give me away.