Monday, April 16, 2007

Virginia Tech: A Prayer


My heart goes out to the families of those who died needlessly today on the campus of Virginia Tech. -I'm sure that are more eloquent writings, but all I can offer is their remembrance in my prayers.



Death Is Nothing...

Death is nothing at all,
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Whatever we were to each, that we are still.
Call me by my old familiar name.
Speak to me in the easy way which you always used.
Laugh as we always laughed
at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me. Pray for me.
Let my name be the household word it always was.
Let it be spoken without effort.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was;
there is absolutely unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of your mind
because I am out of your sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval,
somewhere very near just around the corner...
All is well.
Nothing is past, nothing is lost.
One brief moment
and all will be as it was before,
only better,
infinitely happier
and forever we will be one together.

-Henry Scott Holland (1847-1918)

No.958

5 comments:

Serena said...

It's been a horribly surreal day here in VA. I'm going to say something about it tomorrow. Is it okay if I link your post? That poem is really nice.

Hale McKay said...

Of course, it's okay.

Miss Cellania said...

Amen.

OldHorsetailSnake said...

You're a fine poetical, Hale.

Peter said...

The world mourns this tragic event.