On The Death of A Friend
I heard today about your friend, whom I never met, though I know he meant much to you. I trust he is at peace, even if you, a survivor may be confused and hurt.
It is difficult for me to properly frame my condolences. I only knew of him from your writing and snippets passed to me by others who knew him .
I do know that when someone dies alone far away, one feels cheated.
As if the deceased were a wounded pet who has forsaken you and crawled away to die a lonely death, ashamed by their own mortality.
As the days pass, I trust the light that you found in his being will continue to shine and you will remember fondly that which made him a friend and lover.
That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been,
Ecclesiastes
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Author's Note
The elegy is something one hopes never to have to write, but if you are a "professional" writer, you must rise to the occasion with something simple, yet meaningful.
Other stories by Daniel Harris
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Sad, beautiful elegy. Love this "I trust the light that you found in his being will continue to shine and you will remember fondly that which made him a friend and lover." "*"
Kind, sad, and beautifully written.*
Lovely, Daniel. Did you write this for a friend? It reads very true and sad. *
What Gary said.*
Sad and powerful, Daniel. **
Thank you Kyle, Gary, Kathy, Amanda and Tara for reading and your kind comments.
I echo all. Elegies may be the hardest things to write. You done good, real good. *
This is a blessing to someone like me in a time of need. And it comes as a balm. It challenges one's sense of time within the frame of Ecclesiastes: do these things come to pass as something foreseen, foretold, forgiven? And is now what the future holds for us? And further, and for my own sake, there can be no entrapments. I do not entrap a soul, even his kind soul, into living on my plot of soil on earth. I invite him into my heart to stay and go if such a thing is conceivable. What if he wants to go at last to Spain? as was our tentative plan for the future, and what if he goes in his unfettered form? I am agnostic and do not know what happens afterward and do not want to force but give. *
Oh, Ann Bogle, I always want to hang a star on your comments...I am facing the imminent death of my brother. I feel everything you're saying here. My condolences.
*, Daniel. Such a kind and thoughtful elegy in recognition of the loss of someone so close to the recipient. Kyle's comment speaks for me as well.
Thank you, Kathy, and condolences ahead of that loss for you. A brother in your stories is always very poignant to read about ...
Resonant.
Thank you Mathew, Ann, David and Gary for your kind comments. Ann I thought your remarks especially beautiful.
The stillness at the core of this piece made an impression on me.
Thank you Carol.
Heartfelt, poignant and moving! *
Thank you Michael for your wonderful comments.
This really touched me, Daniel. *
A first-year anniversary of the death of one of my best friend's is Tuesday. You posted this a few months ago, I read it today, and it was the right time. You hit it exactly.
I'm just seeing this now (11/27/2016), thank you Brenda and Epiphany for your heartfelt comments.