Ad Memoriam

[Pendragon]

Ad Memoriam

Why does Death hover cruelly
Over the bodies of the good—
Allowing them to suffer pain and linger
When they should pass easily through the Shadow
To their well-deserved rest…

Yet those who were bitter in life,
And bitter worse on their death beds—
Who scoff at God with their final breath
As if He were the lowest minion—
Pass the Darkness with but a sigh…

Death, be not proud of your deeds.
You have taken from me two dear ladies.
Neither of them were you fit to touch their white robes.
Cut down here, they will shine eternally…
I say not good-bye, but good-night…

Pendragon
© 3/25/08

[PrinceMyshkin]

"Death, be not proud, though some have called you mighty..."

I cannot altogether agree that the bitter ones you speak of pass any more nor less painfully than the good do, but what tenderness in this, and I extend my heart to you re the ladies of whom you speak.

[B-Mental]

I know your sentiments Pen. I only know that life goes on. Great poem. B

[ampoule]

It's kind of like, 'why do bad things happen to good people'. It is indeed a puzzlement but like Prince says, I really don't think the good have a winning ticket for suffering. It's kind of like what my mother-in-law used to say, that the worst things happen during the holidays. Not really. We just notice them more.
I, too, am sorry for the loss of your friends and that they had to suffer.
And, by the way, I like your poem a lot.

[Pendragon]

Thank you, Jerry, B-Mental, Amp-- it has been a difficult time, but celebration of life, not death brings comfort always, and I remember the finial "I love you." from both my second mother and my wife's grandmother always, and that will be my everlasting joy... ;)

[ampoule]

Of course, I thought of this song right away....Farther Along

Tempted and tried, we’re oft made to wonder
Why it should be thus all the day long;
While there are others living about us,
Never molested, though in the wrong.
Refrain:
Farther along we’ll know more about it,
Farther along we’ll understand why;
Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine,
We’ll understand it all by and by.
Sometimes I wonder why I must suffer,
Go in the rain, the cold, and the snow,
When there are many living in comfort,
Giving no heed to all I can do.
Tempted and tried, how often we question
Why we must suffer year after year,
Being accused by those of our loved ones,
E’en though we’ve walked in God’s holy fear.
Often when death has taken our loved ones,
Leaving our home so lone and so drear,
Then do we wonder why others prosper,
Living so wicked year after year.
“Faithful till death,” saith our loving Master;
Short is our time to labor and wait;
Then will our toiling seem to be nothing,
When we shall pass the heavenly gate.
Soon we will see our dear, loving Savior,
Hear the last trumpet sound through the sky;
Then we will meet those gone on before us,
Then we shall know and understand why.

I sing it a little faster but if you liked O Brother Where Art Thou, here are the Peasall Sisters singing it. They're practically all grown up now but in this video they are still little girls.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sc6mcKUucaw