And Death shall have no dominion...

So many people these days, whether it's after the disaster in China, the wars everywere or just the natural way of things, are confronted with loss... Too many people... and my heart aches for them.

I have known some losses in my life, I have known sadness and despair with or without reason or form. I am not used talking about these things as I'm one to bottle things up, keep them and guard them, but in the shadow of so many losses there is something I would like to share with you all.

There are some poems out there that in spite of everything that might have happened, give hope, and strenght... at least to me. And in the hope they might give strength to you as well, I share them here for those who care to look.

(And yes, this is a very melancholic post, I'm well aware. But the sun, eventually, will rise to chase away the shadows of the night.)


This song of Sting is one of them:

Video: http://www.youtube.com/v/nDvkOwmE2ZU&hl=nl

"Mad About You"

A stones's throw from Jerusalem
I walked a lonely mile in the moonlight
And though a million stars were shining
My heart was lost on a distant planet
That whirls around the April moon
Whirling in an arc of sadness
I'm lost without you I'm lost without you
Though all the kingdoms turn to sand
And fall into the sea
I'm mad about you I'm mad about you

And from the dark secluded valleys
I heard the ancient songs of sadness
But every step I thought of you
Every footstep only you
And every star a grain of sand
The leavings of a dried up ocean
Tell me, how much longer? How much longer?

They say a city in the desert lies
The vanity of an ancient king
But the city lies in broken pieces
Where the wind howls and the vultures sing
These are the works of man
This is the sun of our ambition
It would make a prison of my life
If you become another's wife
With every prison blown to dust
My enemies walk free
I'm mad about you I'm mad about you

And I have never in my life
Felt more alone than I do now
Although I claim dominations over all I see
It means nothing to me
There are no victories
In all our histories, without love

A stone's throw from Jerusalem
A walked a lonely mile in the moonlight
And though a million stars were shining
My heart was lost on a distant planet
That whirls around the April moon
Whirling in an arc of sadness
I'm lost without you I'm lost without you
And though you hold the keys to ruin
Of everything I see
With every prison blown to dust,
My enemies walk free
Though all the kingdoms turn to sand
And fall into the sea
I'm mad about you I'm mad about you

I Did Not Die

Do not stand at my grave and forever 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’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and forever cry.
I am not there. I did not die.

Melinda Sue Pacho

Do not go gentle into that good night,

Old age should burn and rave at close of day;

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,

Because their words had forked no lightning they

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright

Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,

And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight

Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,

Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

From The Poems of Dylan Thomas, published by New Directions. Copyright © 1952, 1953 Dylan Thomas. Copyright © 1937, 1945, 1955, 1962

Dirge Without Music

I am not resigned to the shutting away of loving hearts in the hard ground.
So it is, and so it will be, for so it has been, time out of mind:
Into the darkness they go, the wise and the lovely. Crowned
With lilies and with laurel they go; but I am not resigned.

Lovers and thinkers, into the earth with you.
Be one with the dull, the indiscriminate dust.
A fragment of what you felt, of what you knew,
A formula, a phrase remains, — but the best is lost.

The answers quick and keen, the honest look, the laughter, the love, —
They are gone. They have gone to feed the roses. Elegant and curled
Is the blossom. Fragrant is the blossom. I know. But I do not approve.
More precious was the light in your eyes than all the roses in the world.

Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave
Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind:
Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave.
I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned.

Edna St. Vincent Millay

And death shall have no dominion.
Dead men naked they shall be one
With the man in the wind and the west moon;
When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone,
They shall have stars at elbow and foot;
Though they go mad they shall be sane,
Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again;
Though lovers be lost love shall not;
And death shall have no dominion.

 
And death shall have no dominion.
Under the windings of the sea
They lying long shall not die windily;
Twisting on racks when sinews give way,
Strapped to a wheel, yet they shall not break;
Faith in their hands shall snap in two,
And the unicorn evils run them through;
Split all ends up they shan't crack;
And death shall have no dominion.
 

And death shall have no dominion.
No more may gulls cry at their ears
Or waves break loud on the seashores;
Where blew a flower may a flower no more
Lift its head to the blows of the rain;
Through they be mad and dead as nails,
Heads of the characters hammer through daisies;
Break in the sun till the sun breaks down,
And death shall have no dominion.

Journey with the Raven.

I was sitting all alone one day.
My heart was full of strife.
I felt I had no purpose, 
or reason for my life. 

As I sat there thinking, 
a raven happened by. 
He landed on a nearby branch, 
and winked a coal-black eye. 

"I'm really glad to see you.", 
through bitter tears I said. 
"Have you come at last to take my soul,
to peace among the dead?" 

"I'm not sure yet", the raven said. 
"By day's end we will know." 
"Step outside your body now."
"There are places we must go."

So it was that both of us went flying on our way. 
We flew into a different time. 
I wasn't sure what day.
We flew into a public park, 
and landed in a tree. 
"Pay attention now", the raven said, 
"there are things here you should see".

Soon, a lovely woman came, 
tears streaming down her face. 
I was puzzled, 
so I asked my guide what brought her to this place.

"The woman there before you will soon bring forth new life." 
"The father has abandoned them, 
and filled her heart with strife. 
"What Is to become of them?" 
I asked with deep concern. 
"Time will tell" the raven said. 
"Come, there's more to learn!" 

My mind was now sent whirling, 
with thoughts of what and why. 
We flew once more through time and space, 
as again we touched the sky.

We next came to another place with children all at play. 
What was there for me here to learn? 
What would the raven say? 

Amid the happy children, 
I saw one all alone. 
She seemed familiar somehow, 
like someone I had known.
"You saw her Mother in the park" the crafty raven said. 
"She wound up in this orphanage,
when her Mother was found dead." 
"The Mother took her own life, 
when it seemed too much to bear" 
"If only she'd have someone, 
to simply say "I care" 

"The child you see before you", 
he said with drooping head, 
I fear I'll soon be taking,
to peace among the dead". 

"NO!", I told the raven, 
this thing just isn't fair!" 
"There must be one soul somewhere 
who can ease so much despair." 

Without one word said in reply, 
once more through time and space. 
We landed at a fine house, 
of elegance and grace.

As I peered into a window 
I could not believe my eyes. 
The raven laughed to see my face 
so stricken by surprise. 

I saw the woman from the park, 
her daughter by her side. 
The house rang with their laughter. 
I felt great joy inside. 

"Do you see the transformation?", 
the raven laughed with glee. 
"One man can make a difference", 
he said with eyes on me. 
"A poet sleeps inside you, 
Who can turn away their pain" 
"Just hang on till tomorrow, 
You have so much to gain.

Life on earth is far too brief, 
But you could have it all.. 
Enjoy the time that's lent to you,
Until I come to call.

I've thought of what the raven said, 
as I've gone on with my life, 
with a daughter I could not love more, 
and the world's most loving wife. 

I'm grateful to that raven, 
a blessing on his head. 
His gift was so much greater, 
than peace among the dead. 

                                                                             writer unknown

I hope someone, somewhere, might see them as I do and smiling to him/herself know that in the end, everything will be alright...