A poem, to help make it easier to explain to children, about the death of a loved one.
Written by my mother-in-law, inspired by her son, my brother-in-law, Jason Bryant.
Whose passing day was March 31, 2003 at the age of 25.
Cause of death...heartattack.
Life is short, cherish every moment as if it were your last.
Noone knows when their passing day will come...
My very best friend in the whole world
left me...
He didn't even say goodbye...
When I asked to see him,
They told me that he died.
What does that mean, I asked them,
can't I see him any more?
Oh, you will see him one day,
they said, of that we are for sure.
But he didn't even say goodbye,
Why did he leave that way?
He had no choice, he had to go,
it was his passing day.
But where did he go, I wondered,
and does he have to stay,
or can he come back and see me,
so that we can play?
What does it mean
when they say he died,
what are they talking about?
Can he hear me talking to him
when I raise my voice and shout?
But I don't understand,
I told them.
It's ok, they said.
We will try to explain it,
so you can see it in your head.
Now close your eyes and imagine,
the most wonderful place you know.
A place where you feel safe,
and everyone wants to go.
A place where Angels sing,
and trumpets blow like horns.
A place where Fairies live,
with the magical Unicorns.
A place so beauiful,
full of peace & light,
A place so perfect,
it shines of Love so bright.
A place where everyone knows their way,
a place where everyone wants to stay.
Can you imagine,
can you see,
how wonderful a place
like that could be?
That's where your best friend is,
that's where we'll all be.
When our passing day comes,
you will see.
Copyright Lisa Edmonds 2004
Lisa will be having her poem published, in a book along with other children's poetry, by The American Poets Society.
