On Death

Kahlil Gibran – 1883-1931

Then Almitra spoke, saying, We would ask now of Death.
    And he said:
    You would know the secret of death.
    But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life?
    The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light.
    If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life.
    For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.

    In the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond;
    And like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring.
    Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity.
    Your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honour.
    Is the shepherd not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king?
    Yet is he not more mindful of his trembling?

 For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
 And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?

    Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
    And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.
    And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.

From The Prophet (Knopf, 1923). This poem is in the public domain.

How is it so easy for you

to be kind to people he asked

milk and honey dripped

from my lips as I answered

Cause people have not

been kind to me

-Rupi Kaur

Whats the greatest lesson a woman should learn?

that since day one she already had everything

she needs within herself.

Its the world that

convinced her she did not.

-Rupi Kaur

What is stronger

than the human heart

Which shatters over and over

and still lives

– Rupi Kaur

Other women’s bodies

are not our battlegrounds

-Rupi Kaur

If you were born with the weakness to fail

You were born with the strength to rise

-Rupi Kaur

If you are broken

and they have left you

do not question

whether you were

enough

the problem was

you were so enough

they were not able to carry it

-Rupi Kaur

Let it go

Let it leave

Let it happen

Nothing

in this world

was promised or

belonged to you

anyway

all you own is yourself.

-Rupi Kaur

You were my mothers “baby”, my fathers buddy, and my faithful and loyal “boy”friend. I always told you: ‘ I never knew the man of my dreams would be a doggy!” (lol). Who needs romantic love when you can have the best snuggles ever, with a buddy who will love you without manipulation, with fierce loyalty and love?

Could there be any more faithful male friend and companion than you? No.

You always made me laugh, you never made me cry.

You stayed with me over the years, especially on nights when I was down, when my son was still young and would go home and I’d feel so lonely and sad. … you were always there to soothe and comfort, to snuggle and give the gift of your devoted unconditional Love.

I only wish I’d never wasted time with certain people that I could have spent just with you. People who took my energy and depleted me, who left me more lonely and more sad.

A girl could not have a truer friend than you.

At my sickest, you have been there.

At my saddest you have been there.

You were always keeping me, and everyone else, entertained,.

You gave constant loving doggy kisses, …and sometimes unwanted facials too! …but I let you, because it brought you such joy to cover my entire face with dog kisses.

All of those beloved doggy snorts and snuffle sounds you made while rooting around for food…

Oh how you loved your food!

My little piggy, my truffle hunter…. I could never hope to sleep without my earplugs due to all those snoring sounds (which I loved too, which I already miss too…)

You were the best dog a girl could ever ask for. Dog is God spelled backwards for a reason. You taught everyone unconditional true love. You trained us all.

I miss you SO much already Jakey. I always will. I hope the red hot poker of grief will someday die down to a bearable ember, (until we meet again…)

It is astounding just how much I feel the loss of you. My apartment is so empty without your energy in it.

Your great big personality. Your enormous heart. Even your jealousy was adorable, which is something you couldn’t say of human behavior. (It was a much cuter trait in a dog!)

Christmas will seem so weird without you getting excited and opening your presents in a frenzy. . I never saw a dog as excited about opening gifts as a child is, but you were a forever child. It will be weird reading books without you slamming your paw down on them to let me know I should be paying more attention….so many things I will miss.

I’m grateful for every second I have spent with you.

My heart, my love, my doggy “boy” -friend.

We all will Love you forever.

march 22, 2010 – October 6, 2021.