death
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Shutting Down the Device
"Are you sure you want to shut down the device?" That's the question asked of meby my Sony e-Reader.And for a momentI'm not sure how to respond–it sounds so final:"…shut down the device?"It has the feeling of dissolution and death:"Are… Continue reading
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Advent 9
"Leave the dead to bury the dead," Jesus says,which means that some of uswalk about devoid of life. "Join the company of the living,the compassionate, the wonder-filled!" Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading
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Midlife Wedding Day
We shall spend our lives together.I feel rather more certain of this at 58,than I could have at 25 or 40. We shall be together when one of us dies–not a morbid thought, but comforting:either I will hold you,or you me,and one… Continue reading
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What Dolores Wrote
Somewhere in rural Nebraska,in her farmhouse kitchen,as was her custom,Dolores wrote on the square of chalkboardher axiom of the week: We don't need more of what we've got, we just need to be more grateful for it. Within two… Continue reading
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A Poem Rarely Finishes
A poem rarely finishes,because we rarely finish…or only finish once. Upon my deathmy poems will gatherand say(some with sadness,some with wonder,some with relief),"Well, that's it then.No more fiddling." They will go on with their livesin whatever state I've left them.… Continue reading
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The Day My Father Died
The day my father diedthe snowman in the yard melted–one releasing warmth,the other absorbing it. Pale blue eyes slowly clouded,gazing at a bloodless blue wall;Corona-cap eyes rested on slush,gazing at a cloudless blue sky. One lay gray against a background… Continue reading
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Alchemy
Alchemy in a Cambodian factory–jingle bells createdfrom the remnants of roadside bombs. This holidaythe jingling you hearmay be the transmutationof intended dismemberment and deathinto delight and life. This is redemption. Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights… Continue reading
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Metaphors for Departure
When my sister died,she chose to stop life support,knowing the consequences. When my father died,a heart attack damaged himbeyond choice. When my mother died,she decided, "That's it. I've had enough,"and willled herself across the border. Nancy pulled her own plug.Someone stole… Continue reading
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Amazing Grace 1
Nancy's favorite hymn,"Amazing Grace,"was what she wanted sungat her funeral. Several days after her deaththe family sat downwith a patient funeral directorto settle on the details. "No," my father said,"That's such a cliche;there are better hymns." No doubt there are,and… Continue reading
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Perfection
After month upon month in ICUmy sister reached perfectionand said,"Enough."The word came from a puffy, pale face,beneath what had been a crown of thick, cascading hair,but was now only scattered brown tufts. "Be ye perfect,"Jesus had said to her.Hers was… Continue reading