04 October 2007

We remember them

I wanted to share with you a poem that I find comforting. It does not make promises or speak of better places as so many of these things do and which I find empty and of little solace. Instead it addresses what I think of as the essential core of what it means to lose someone one loves.


Photo by Alexander Burdin a Russian colleague of mine

"In the rising of the sun and in its going down,
we remember them.
In the glowing of the wind and in the chill of winter,
we remember them.
In the opening of buds and in the rebirth of spring,
we remember them.
In the blueness of the sky and in the warmth of summer,
we remember them.
In the rustling of leaves and in the beauty of autumn,
we remember them.
In the beginning of the year and when it ends,
we remember them.
When we are weary and in need of strength,
we remember them.
When we are lost and sick at heart,
we remember them.
When we have joys we yearn to share,
we remember them.
So long as we live, they too shall live, for they are now a part of us,
as
we remember them." *

— Jewish prayer, from the Rabbi’s Manual 1998

*Please note that I am not a member of the faith from which this comes from and I take it in my own context separate from which it may be originally intended.

11 comments:

  1. the poem is beautiful. Thank you for sharing. May your remembrances be joyful.

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  2. Just wanted to check in and wish you peace.

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  3. I'm sorry about your double losses happening so close together. Take care of yourself.

    (The word verification spells gerhiuef. Sounds like grief!)

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  4. Thanks for sharing, it is a beautiful sentiment.

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  5. painted maypole ~ thank you.

    ms chica ~ isn't it?

    liv ~ thank you liv, for checking in.

    rubber duckie ~ thank you, I'll try.

    doris ~ your welcome

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  6. Oh and Doris! Thanks for de-lurking! I'll be over to visit soon.

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  7. A beautiful and very soothing poem. So sorry to read of your recent losses - they sounded very special people.

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  8. but why? - thank you for visiting and de-lurking (now I can visit you!). You are right, they were very special people and their fingerprints will always linger in my heart.

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  9. Wayfarer, your beautiful poem made me think of a ceremony that is celebrated here when we remember all those who have died in wars. A solitary bugler plays “The Last Post” and then a poem is recited, popularly called ‘Lest we forget.” I’m not sure whether that is the real name of the poem. I’m wondering whether the poet was influenced by the Jewish prayer you quoted.

    Here’s a sound clip of the bugle call: http://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/last_post.htm

    Then the poem is recited:

    They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
    Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
    At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
    We will remember them.

    At the end the people gathered say: ‘Lest we forget.’

    I'm sorry for your loss and I hope memories will be a source of comfort for you.

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  10. parlance ~ thank you. That too was beautiful. I appreciate you sharing it with me.

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