Death in the Family

 

Feb 21, 2015

 

Death is a fact of life.

If we understood that truth we might be less anxious.

Yes, death is a fact of life, why fear Heaven or Hell?

Damnation or punishment should not frighten us.

I am a non-believer in an after-life,

So they do not faze me.

When I was a child, 
I was punished in a non-punitive way,
Never hit or beaten, frequently deprived of treats.

Punishment never brought fear despite the spotlight’s bright gaze,

I learned not to be afraid.

My life was been tempered with moderation and good sense.

Oh my oh my, I sit here and write about death and suddenly

It slammed right into me.

A call came, a sweet voice said,

“Agnes Jane, this is cousin Janice.”

Of course, Lee’s daughter,

we married her to Steve many years ago.

My Dad has died!” she said.

I can hardly write it down.

Death is academic

until it slams right into us always with sad news:

Lee is dead! Just like that,

Lee is dead!

I studied his picture; it can’t be so.

He was optimism; he was family,

I remember when Lee was born.

I was a kid when he and cousin John made me a family elder.

I was five or six!

That long ago!

And now Lee is dead.

But I can still hear his voice…..