Give Me Away – an Epitaph

This post is for all those who grieve their loves and losses. Love, beyond all conception of what that word conveys, never dies.

puffin-walking
Boldly walk on.

No, I am not about to die. And yes too! Any moment our mortality will catch up with us and then we ‘walk on’. And those awaiting their moment will walk on too. Words of guidance below.

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 to 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 on in your eyes
And not your mind.

You can love me most
By letting
Hands touch hands,
By letting bodies touch bodies,
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.

By Merrit Malloy

Photo by Mark Rowan – as always ‘many thanks’.

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6 thoughts on “Give Me Away – an Epitaph”

  1. So today would have been Bob’s 86th birthday and its 23 years since he died. Twenty three years since that evening in hospital when you phoned me just a little while before he died.
    Such a moving poem you’ve posted on this day and so appropriate for me to read and reflect on.
    As you know Bob had a great love of life and people and passing on that love is what I have tried to do ever since..
    Thank you for once again being there and teaching. Adrienne 🙏

    1. That’s amazing Adrienne, Bob’s birthday and this post seems to hit the spot with others too on Facebook. I’m thinking of Myfanwy a lot at the moment as we head into the time of her death. Was it early on the 2nd July? Oh, and when he was alive you were passing on love…you came as a pair. Happy memories of my first visits to your home when Bob was alive, your offspring still at home. Your dog very much alive.

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