On the Death of the Beloved

I am very grateful and honored by all the responses to my posts about the experiences we have had with the death of Isis, our cat. You have touched my heart!


One of the things that was shared with us was the following poem, sent by our friend, Joyful. I want to share it with all of you, since we have all grieved for someone we love, human or animal - or both. Thank you, Joyful One, for sending this:


On the Death of the Beloved


Though we need to weep your loss,
You dwell in that safe place in our hearts,
Where no storm or might or pain can reach you.


Your love was like the dawn
Brightening over our lives
Awakening beneath the dark
A further adventure of colour.


The sound of your voice
Found for us
A new music
That brightened everything.


Whatever you enfolded in your gaze
Quickened in the joy of its being;
You placed smiles like flowers
On the altar of the heart.
Your mind always sparkled
With wonder at things.


Though your days here were brief,
Your spirit was live, awake, complete.


We look towards each other no longer
From the old distance of our names;
Now you dwell inside the rhythm of breath,
As close to us as we are to ourselves.


Though we cannot see you with outward eyes,
We know our soul's gaze is upon your face,
Smiling back at us from within everything
To which we bring our best refinement.


Let us not look for you only in memory,
Where we would grow lonely without you.
You would want us to find you in presence,
Beside us when beauty brightens,
When kindness glows
And music echoes eternal tones.


When orchids brighten the earth,
Darkest winter has turned to spring;
May this dark grief flower with hope
In every heart that loves you.


May you continue to inspire us:


To enter each day with a generous heart.
To serve the call of courage and love
Until we see your beautiful face again
In that land where there is no more separation,
Where all tears will be wiped from our mind,
And where we will never lose you again.


~John O’Donohue


Blessings,
Shakura Cathryn
(Grateful for all connected with this event)
"One day I will leave this world and Dream myself to Reality" ~Crazy Horse 1874