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Epitaph by Merrit Malloy

by crowspark 

Posted: 09 September 2023
Word Count: 136
Summary: Not my poem, but a gift all the same.


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Epitaph by Merrit Malloy

When I die give what's left of me away
to children and old men that wait to die.
And if you need to cry,
cry for your brother walking the street beside you.
And when you need me, put your arms around anyone
and give them what you need to give me.

I want to leave you something,
something better than words or sounds.
Look for me in the people I've known or loved,
and if you cannot give me away,
at least let me live in your eyes and not in your mind.

You can love me best by letting hands touch hands,
and by letting go of children that need to be free.
Love doesn't die, people do.
So when all that's left of me is love,
give me away.






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Comments by other Members



michwo at 11:08 on 10 September 2023  Report this post
This put me in mind of the last line of "An Arundel Tomb" by Philip Larkin: What will survive of us is love and there's no 'almost' about it in this case:
Love doesn't die, people do.
So when all that's left of me is love,
give me away. 

Good advice.

 

<Added>

P.s. Who was the actual author of this? It's nothing like Allen Ginsberg' "Kaddish" or the Hebrew prayer for that matter.

crowspark at 19:03 on 10 September 2023  Report this post
Your are correct! Although I used the title given I find that this is actually "Epitaph by Merrit Malloy"
Well spotted Michael.
 


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