My friend Deirdre loved and cherished all those who crossed her path. She welcomed people from different faiths and different cultures. Her death was so amazing with people of many faiths joining together to send her on her way. I wrote this poem following that experience. The “all shall be well” is a loose copy from Hildegard of Bingen.
The Death of De
The light is waning and the gloaming is here. There is a hush in the turning of the earth it holds its breath for just a moment. We stand watch sensing each breath matching it with our own anxious with each pause while darkness encompasses the room. Her soul loosens but holds I sign the cross on her brow and Christ is here A Hindu friend joins and her prayers are added. Another comes and the prayers to Allah are lifted up. With loving hands we anoint her with sweet lotion brought from France by another. All faith is here, we can feel God's gentle breeze, there is true communion My friend is held in the arms of love She is suspended between life and death through the night. As the sun lifts itself into the heaven love lifts her on her journey and with the smallest wisper she is gone. Behind her from the air come the words... All shall be well and all shall be well and all things shall be well.
worry-less-journey 