Previous Message Return to Archive 2002 Next Message

Archive Number 1033

Date: Sat, 9 Mar 2002 21:38:49 -0800
From: Allison Cox
Subject: story request






HEALINGSTORY Digest - 5 Feb 2002 to 6 Feb 2002 (#2002-28)Jena,
I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. Here are some poems, thoughts =
and such that were sent to me when my mother died...


From Kate Dudding:
I am comforted by the African tribe tradition (I think I
have the continent correct) of dividing the dead into two groups:
the living dead and the honored dead. The living dead are
people who are remembered by those still alive. One does
not join the honored dead until no one living remembers you.


Diane Wyzaga sent:
Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on
snow. I am the sunlight
on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush, I am the swift
uplifting rush of quiet birds in
circling flight. I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there. I did not die.
Life is eternal & love is immortal & death is only a horizon
& a horizon is nothing more save the limit of our sight.


Kirk Avery wrote me:
"I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads
her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the
blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand
and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of
white cloud just where the sea and sky mingle with each
other.
Then someone at my side says "There, she is gone."
"Gone where?"
"Gone from my sight. That is all."
She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as when
she left my side and she is just as able to bear her load of
living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at
that moment when someone says "There, she is gone" there are
other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to
take up the glad shout - "Here she comes!"
And that is dying."
by Henry Van Dyke


From Nan Gregory:
Ring out the bells that still can ring
Put away your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
(This is from a Canadian musician whose name escapes me)

From Kimberley King:
Here is a poem I like. It is written by Mary TallMountain.
Bio notes say that Mary TallMountain was born in Nulato, Alaska, to a
Koyukon-Athabaskan mother and a Scotch-Irish father. "Sokoya" means =
"aunt,"
specifically "Mother's sister."

THERE IS NO WORD FOR GOODBYE

Sokoya, I said, looking through
the net of wrinkles into
wise black pools
of her eyes.

What do you say in Athabaskan
when you leave each other?
What is the word
for goodbye?

A shade of feeling rippled
the wind-tanned skin.
Ah, nothing, she said,
watching the river flash.

She looked at me close.
We just say, Tlaa. That means,
See you.
We never leave each other.
When does your mouth
say goodbye to your heart?

She touched me light
as a bluebell.
You forget when you leave us,
You're so small then.
We don't use that word.

We always think you're coming back.
but if you don't,
we'll see you some place else.
You understand.
There is no word for goodbye.


by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
'The Little Prince':

In one of the stars
I shall be living
In one of them
I shall be laughing
And so it will be
as if all the stars
were laughing
when you look
at the sky at night!


Gaelic Blessing

Deep peace
of the running wave to you
Deep peace
of the flowing air to you
Deep peace
of the quiet earth to you
Deep peace
of the shining stars to you
Deep peace
of the Prince of Peace to you

May the road rise
to meet you
May the wind be always
at your back
May the sun shine warm
upon you face
May the rains fall softly
upon your fields
And until we meet again
may the Lord hold you safely
In the hollow of his hand.

Allison M. Cox
www.dancingleaves.com/allison

also see www.healingstory.org

Story crosses over all boundaries
for it speaks the language of the heart