On His Death Bed by Mikines
He died…
but not before he said goodbye
to everyone and everything
he knew and loved.
Sadness came and went
perfuming the air
around his final breath,
but there was more….
Was it the color
of the room
or the choice
of music playing
that helped them
all forget that they were
standing at the deathbed
of someone,
who had touched
them to the core?
He was not in pain
not at the end;
in some ways,
he had already left,
his worn-out form
shrinking smaller
and smaller,
while Death…
was in the corner,
holding out her hand.
Later people would talk
of it… of that day
when the sun flared
and everyone felt
a little giddy…
like they knew each other
for at least one lifetime,
much like roots
connecting and interlacing
tying all the trees together
in loose knots.
Not related by blood
but by luck.
The good luck of knowing
that shrinking figure
in a white gown,
now
slipping away
from the talk
and the tears
and
the music.
Where was the why of this?
Because everyone
in that sunlight parlor
had loved him
at some time,
in their own way,
long times for years,
or a fleeting moment
for a day…
or in other lives,
perhaps lived before.
Who can say?
At some point,
each of their lives had
sparkled
a little brighter
tears formed
a little bigger
when they parted…
because he brought passion
to the stage
and
everyone in this
sad
dreary,
sick,
day and age,
was starving
for some of that.
Say what you may,
no one ever forgot him…
and when it was talked about
months later
what a singular death
in such a beautiful
sun’lit room,
with just the perfect music
so harmonious in vibration
and everyone there was so gentle
and special
as if picked by hand carefully
one by one
and stored in his story…
Some, remarked
as they always did,
“Oh yes,
what a beautiful
death he had,”
But the wiser ones
nodded knowingly…
“On the contrary,
“What a beautiful life he lived”.
Karima Hoisan
January 22, 2022
Costa Rica
Digital Rabbit Hole 
A beautiful reminder, that life is always a cycle, and even the end can come with joy. Something we especially need to remember right now, I think. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Dale for your interesting view of this poem….you are right that now would be a wonderful time to start cultivating a good death…but as I say in the end…living a good life..gets you more than half way there…I do believe.:)
LikeLike
This is so true to life – I felt very similarly at my father’s funeral…
❤
David
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you David… I have seen this too in my lifetime…been present at a “good death”❤️
LikeLike
You have touched a sensitive topic, Karima. There was an Indian guru, whose disciples used to celebrate deaths. Death is not an end, it may be a beginning too. And if one has lived his life successfully in all respects, he has a satisfactory death too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Kaushal for your thoughtful comment on my poem..its theme..Inshallah this is what we hope for a life well-lived will be just that, even in the very end… I have been at many death beds and I have seen proof of this..but in the end, it is not under our control but this is what we all would like to happen and that is the point of view of my poem too. Inshallah!! I enjoyed your words on this subject…🙏🤗❤️🦋🌷
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re more than welcome, Karima 🙏💐💖
LikeLike
This is so good.
Your such a great story teller.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh *blushes, thank you Hdavey..glad you think so:)
LikeLike
Oh, such a gorgeous poem to end my evening, Karima. You’ve weaved a tale of love and loss, and so much more, leaning into and highlighting the fragrance of a life lived to its fullest, touching and inspiring people along the way; so much so, that even in death this being continued to move, touch, and inspire. Gorgeous poetry, my dear friend. 🤗❤️🌸🌻✨🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awww you ended your day on the death bed, but I am glad you were uplifted by it Jeff:):) Thank you thank you for helping me see how my poetry has touched you…through your wise eyes. Yes a life well-lived brings no regrets at the end…It’s something we can all actively do too (while we are still alive:) Now is the time:) ❤️🤗🌹🙏🦋
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Karima. Always. Indeed, I completely agree, now is the time. Wishing you a beautiful and blissful week, my dear friend. 🙏🌻❤️🌹🦋
LikeLike
Often these occasions bring together people who knew the person who has passed away but until then they never knew each other. When my father passed away we got to meet a number of his friends for the first time. A chapel had given my parents a bird bath years ago and they told us about his work there. As a result we decided to keep the bird bath and repaint it as a memory of my father and his work with those folk from the chapel. A great piece of writing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much , David, for your positive feedback and for sharing that beautiful memory of when your father passed. I just loved reading it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is so beautiful Karima. When one has been sick for a while one can shed this old body and be grateful for that who greets the. Some people are so ready to leave this earth knowing that something so much better is coming. It may be my dog that greets me. I have had a life after medical death experience and I will share it some day. I love the way you ended this lovely write too my kind friend. I am sending you buckets of love and blessings. 🤗🦋❤️🥰💋🌹💋🌹
LikeLike
Your poem just took my breath away! You have crafted it so well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Harshi…welcome to my blog:) Thank you so much for your words. I am very happy you enjoyed reading this one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for welcoming me so warmly, Karima
I intend to stay and learn 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh you are most welcome…Enjoy getting to know this old place:):) I’ve been here since 2010:)
LikeLike
Reading this was like observing a preview to a movie. Very well executed, Karima ! Congrats
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh thank you Virginia..what a lovely comment..Now that you said it..Oh yes, I can see it too.. It could be the trailer of something much more developed..with fashbacks, multi-locations etc:):) I love that idea:) Thanks so much for stopping by..
LikeLike
Your poem its truly amazing, Karima! Thank you so much for sharing your poetry with us!
LikeLike
What a wonderful poem! Truly impressive, reminding us to celebrate life and the people who touch our hearts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Dawn, thank you for seeing my poem so clearly…Yes I do believe this is the message, Life gives us… Thank you for sharing your comment with me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure.
LikeLiked by 1 person