There is No Death

My real father passed away when I was 11 years old and the man that stepped up as my Godfather, and lived up to the title more than I could have ever hoped, passed away last month. My life will never be the same without these two men in my life. Here is a poem I came across that gave me some peace through my grief. Both of you will always be in my heart.

There Is No Death

There is no death! The stars go down
To rise upon some other shore,
And bright in heaven’s jeweled crown,
They shine forevermore.

And all things that for growth or joy
Are worthy of our love or care,
Whose loss has left us desolate,
Are safely garnered there.

Though life become a desert waste,
We know its fairest, sweetest flowers,
Transplanted into Paradise,
Adorn immortal bowers.

The voice of birdlike melody
That we have missed and mourned so long,
Now mingles with the angel choir
In everlasting song.

There is no death! Although we grieve
When beautiful, familiar forms
That we have learned to love are torn
From our embracing arms.

Although with bowed and breaking heart,
With sable garb and silent tread,
We bear their senseless dust to rest,
And say that they are “dead”.

They are not dead! They have but passed
Beyond the mists that blind us here
Into the new and larger life
Of that serener sphere.

They have but dropped their robe of clay
To put their shining raiment on,
They have not wandered far away,
They are not “lost” or “gone”.

Though disenthralled and glorified
They are still here and love us yet,
The dear ones they have left behind,
They never can forget.

And sometimes we feel upon our fevered brow
Their gentle touch, their breath of balm,
Their arms enfold us, and our hearts
Grow comforted and calm.

And ever near us, though unseen,
The dear, immortal spirits tread
For all the boundless universe
Is Life-there are no dead!