Coping With Loss

 

Those of you who know me are aware that I'll talk about anything, there's really no subject I'm uncomfortable discussing. But when it comes to death I usually struggle for words.  I don't know what to say to someone who's grieving, there's little consolation to be found when a loved one is lost.  I came across this poem on someone's blog a while ago, it had a tremendous affect on me and has stayed with me since.

   I post this for those of you who are struggling with the loss of someone. I hope you'll find some peace in these words.

                                                               

Gone From My Sight

by Henry Van Dyke

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship, at my side,

spreads her white sails to the moving breeze and starts

for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength.

I stand and watch her until, at length, she hangs like a speck

of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then, someone at my side says, "There, she is gone"

Gone where?

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast,

hull and spar as she was when she left my side.

And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.

Her diminished size is in me -- not in her.

And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone,"

there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices

ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!"

And that is dying...