A Death Poem

For David, Who Died By Drowning

Who goes down for the first time
Goes down with you in mind;
Each is responsible for each,
The links between us
Destroy and teach.

Who goes down in water
Comes back,
Comes back on mourning's tide;
What ties the dream to earth
Is life and death and joy and birth.

Who goes down for the third time
Comes back as spark, as flame.
Now he who comes to mind
Needs no more a name; his name,
Be given or taken, his name is vain.

We come to term as flesh,
We come to term and wait;
Not one, not some, but all: all die.
And we who have not fallen
Can but remember… weep… remember...


rcs.

4th draft: 05/07/05
©1977 Ronald C. Southern

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David, a woman named Joleen died recently and somehow reminds me of you tonight. I think how I am now twice our age then, but you are not. It's a silly observation, but it's the kind we make, those of us who weep and remember.... Condolences to Theresa.

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