For so many years, poetry about loss and death has comforted the grief-stricken. So, this week for National Poetry Month, I’d like to look at that poetic topic.

On Thursday, I attended a Celebration of Life of a dear friend and saw the juxtaposition of joy and sorrow in real time. Poets have done that for years.

So that led me on Friday to select the poem, “When Death Comes” by Mary Oliver as the inspirational reading for my meditation group as I led it that day. My emotions still ran strong with attending yet another service for a loved one. As we get older, that seems to be the norm. And when I need consolation in poetry for strong emotions, I turn to Mary Oliver’s sensitive and powerful poetry.

When Death Comes

When death comes 
like the hungry bear in autumn; 
when death comes and takes all the bright coins from his purse

to buy me, and snaps the purse shut; 
when death comes 
like the measles pox

when death comes 
like an iceberg between the shoulder blades,

I want to step through the door full of curiosity, 
wondering: 
what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness?

And therefore I look upon everything 
as a brotherhood and a sisterhood, 
and I look upon time as no more than an idea, 
and I consider eternity as another possibility,

and I think of each life as a flower, as common 
as a field daisy, and as singular,

and each name a comfortable music in the mouth, 
tending, as all music does, toward silence,

and each body a lion of courage, and something 
precious to the earth.

When it's over, I want to say: all my life 
I was a bride married to amazement. 
I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.

When it's over, I don't want to wonder 
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.
I don't want to find myself sighing and frightened, 
or full of argument.

I don't want to end up simply having visited this world.

—Mary Oliver

https://www.loc.gov/programs/poetry-and-literature/poet-laureate/poet-laureate-projects/poetry-180/all-poems/item/poetry-180-102/when-death-comes

My Response to “When Death Comes”

In response to this poem and our meditation time together, I wrote the following haikus. Remember that a haiku is a three-line poem with 5 syllables in the first line, 7 in the second and 5 in the third. Traditionally the third line should hold some spice, some punch. That’s why in my fourth haiku below, I provide three choices. Which one do you like the best?

When death comes, I want

To be astonished with it!

To run—shout for joy!

When death comes, I will

See Jesus and run to him.

He will hold me close.

Finally, I will be

Home at last—where my heart is!

Familiar faces!

No longer do I

Fear death. It’s the gateway there.

1. I know many there.
2. It’s dying I fear.
3. My heart has been there.

Other Mary Oliver poetry about death and grief:

• Love Sorrow from Red Bird
• Ocean from Red Bird
• No Voyage from New and Selected Poems
• After Her Death from Thirst
• A Pretty Song from Thirst

Yes, the topics of poetry span all of life and death. In my book, A Time to Grow Up: A Daughter’s Grief Memoir, I address the loss of my parents in poetry, especially my mom.

Here’s one of my poems dealing with her death:

I Want You Back! Or Do I?

January 27, 2014

I stand at that mysterious wall 
between life and eternity 
and scream,
"I want you back!" 

I pound my fists.
I scream! 
I cry,
but nothing changes. 

You slipped
through my fingertips. 

I grasped. 

You were here one second 
and 
gone the next! 

Nothing I could do 
would hold you. 

Where are you now?
Sitting next to Jesus and Dad—
smiling
youthful
relaxed
happy! 

I hope so! 

I am earth bound— 
held in place 
by time and
my human existence! 

I now know more, 
realize there's more. 
There has to be! 

A small peephole 
opened into eternity 
at your death bed. 

Surprisingly, a small kernel of hope was 
born that day for me. 

Life ended here for you 
so quickly! 

Your shell of a body
lay limp and lifeless
in that hospital bed.
I saw your last breath,
but I also saw something else 
slight 
faint 

Relief for you! 
A passing 
A knowing
that you are gone 
from here,
but will wait for me 
there. 

In my solemn, desolate space, 
I will still cry, 
"I want you back!" 

But today I know
that 
I don't want you back— 

I want to join you 
there!

Larada Horner-Miller, A Time to Grow Up: A Daughter’s Grief Memoir, (Horner Publishing Company, 2017), 193-195

Life, death and everything in-between—poetry addresses it all and comforts the soul. If any of you feel sorrow or grief today, I hope these verses touched your heart and gave you some solace and relief!

Finally,

do you have a favorite poem that addresses loss and death? Grief? Sorrow? Let me know so I can add it to my list!

My Newest Books

Is My Truth Universal?: A Woman’s Poetic Odyssey e-book – FREE

Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry e-book on sale for $.99

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir e-book on sale for $1.99

Buy My Audio Books:

This Tumbleweed Landed

Chirp

Nook

Storytel

Libro.FM

Google Play

Kobo, Walmart

Audiobooks.com

Let Me Tell You a Story 

Audible

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Apple Books

Kobo

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook

Chirp

Amazon

Kobo, Walmart

Libro.FM

NOOK 

Storytel

Bounty from ACX United States

United Kingdom

Germany

France

Canada

Australia

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Pinterest
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• YouTube