This week, I watched a memorial for a dear friend who recently moved on to fly to new places.
I watched as the golden sun moved on further to the south and left us in the cold darkness.
I’ve witnessed the leaves letting go to move on and make soil and room for new sprouts.
I’ve heard precious stories on our End of Life Conversations podcast of so many compassionate beloveds who share about their caring for, loving, and holding humans and more than humans who move on.
This poem spoke deeply to me in this time of reflection on all that moves on but is still with us and remembering the promise of resurrection.
I’m Right Here by John Roedel
“I miss you.”
“I’m right here next to you”
“But I can’t see you.”
“Then close your eyes and feel me.”
“Oh. Oh. Oh. There you are.”
“Here I am, my love. I am here.”
your beloved
~ they aren’t gone
~ they are right here
it’s just that they have changed forms
it’s just that they were the lake that eventually became the rolling thunderhead
it’s just that they were the seed that eventually became the lush apple tree
it’s just that they were the fistful of wet clay that eventually became the cup of eternity
your beloved
~they aren’t gone
~ they are right here
and they’re holding you as you tremble
and they’re dancing in the swirling galaxies of tears that are forming in your eyes
and they’re whispering your name softly between the silent gaps of your thumping heartbeat
and they’re gently blowing on the hairs that are rising on your arms right now
your beloved
~they aren’t gone
~ they are right here
and they know that you love them still and forever
because love is an endless string of warm sunlit
memories tied between two people
because love is a circle drawn on the wall of time
in permanent red marker
because love is the act of holding hands with
another person and counting to infinity by twos
your beloved
~they aren’t gone
~ they are right here
and they are leaving love notes for you everywhere
that over and over and
in a hundred million different ways
say the exact same thing:
“we have not been separated
we have not been separated
we have not been separated”
your beloved
~they aren’t gone
~ they are right here
and they want me to tell you something:
they are
so proud
of you
~ john roedel
Wow!