Demoniac souls whisper of certain human decline.
They are the haunting calls which lead our minds to madness.
Demons of negative thoughts try to shadow the divine.

Angels sing songs peacefully of our holy design.
Their divine keeping our minds focused on happiness.
Let the power of positivists among angels shine.

Evil a wicked and cunning scheme of tempting sweet wine.
Be careful of how much it contaminates the wholeness.
Demons of negative thoughts try to shadow the divine.

Humankind will always find a way to cut the vile vine.
Mother earth will replace evil with vines of fruitfulness.
Let the power of positivists among angels shine.

Humans by nature are both demons and angels combine.
Hope the demons loses to the angels’ of holiness.
Let the power of positivists among angels shine.
Demons of negative thoughts try to shadow the divine.

This post was originally published on In Loving Memory Poems at Demons and Angels.

Blood of my spirit, not my body

You watched calmly as I split the wood

And stacked the stones

No voice from heaven

But sound of your mother breaking

Foretold that the knife would not be stayed

Warned no scapegoat was coming

Surely the saints

Have seen with the eyes of Ezekiel

The wheel of fire, devoid of comfort

Only grief and terror

I have heard the prayers of such holy men

And I still pray

(Non-commercial use free provided attribution is made.)

http://nothinghypothetical.wordpress.com/2010/03/19/my-son-lost/

This post was originally published on In Loving Memory Poems at My Son, Lost.

Granny chose they dress me up in my favourite suit,
But this time there will be no return journey.
My brothers have put me in a box,
I am on display in the Living Room.
Living Room, what am I doing in the room of the living?
But they cannot hear me,
Because I cannot speak.

I hate this fake smile plastered on my face by the mortician,
It makes my Maggie cry.
Besides, what’s there to smile at?
And what’s Maggie doing calling out my name?
Can’t she see that my ears are blocked with wool?
I cannot hear her.
Look at little Krystal;
Does she even know I will not be opening my door for her?
Not tomorrow. Not ever. Never. No more Deshi!
Even Simon is here and he is crying.
Are those tears for me or for the twenty
Thousand shillings that now I will never be able to pay back?
But at least he comes near me unlike Olive
She has chosen to day to be afraid of me.

I thought I was mush loved at my place of work;
Where is my boss and workmates taking this box that am in?
Oh my! Oh my! Its 4PM!
Time for me to begin that dreadful journey
Jack fruit trees and banana plantations.
I so hate this path,
Mother took it and never came even though it was so close to our house.
You don’t believe me?
Then what of Aunt Harriet, Aunt Eva and Aunt Bernadette?
Little brother Douglas and Maggie’s Henry;
They all never came back!
I hate this path. I hate it! I so hate it!

And this pit they are lowering me into,
I don’t even know these men.
Who are they and why are throwing me in a pit?
Now I know I don’t like this pit and I don’t like these men either.
Hey someone, Maggie, please stop them!
You know how much I fear darkness.
Don’t be fooled by the shallowness of this pit,
Its too dark and very deep.
They should not put me down there,
I will never come out!
I will never come back!

This is very strange,
Everyone is throwing dirt at me.
All because the priest said dust to dust and ashes to ashes.
He lied! I have never been dust or ash!
Everyone is wailing even the more.
Are they a bunch of hypocrites?
No, that’s how they show their love for me.

They all bid me farewell even though they don’t know where I’m going.
But Granny seems to know my destination,
She tells me to convey her regards to her faithful departed.
So I am now also departed!

Dressed in my favourite suit
On such a tearful day
And with my loved ones abandoning me in the lonely wilderness,
This surely is my Saddest Day!

- by Luyimbaazi Dennice Vadim

Mention my name when you recite this poem. Its a dedication to my parents and all my faithful departed., Mother

This post was originally published on In Loving Memory Poems at My Saddest Day.

Finding bereavement gifts, to give to the family of a deceased person, should not be a tedious task.  Most of the time, simple things can mean a lot to them during their time of grief.  There are different types of items you can choose from.

Your choice will depend to some degree on what your relationship was with the deceased, as well as your relationship with his family and friends.  The closer you are to them, the more personal it should be.

Bereavement gifts can be religious, visual, musical, horticultural, material, or even edible.  They can be homemade, bought from a store, or specially custom-designed.  The price of these items may be expensive or inexpensive.  Your final choice will all depend on what you have in mind.  Your gift can be anything, but the presents you choose should be appropriate for the occasion, and tasteful.

If you still don’t have any clue as to what to give, the following are some ideas you might use:

Visual or Musical Tributes

A visual or musical tribute can be a good bereavement gift.  This does not necessarily cost a lot of money, though creating it can take a lot of time.  It is, however, an extremely personal gift which shows that the deceased and his or her family are truly in your thoughts.  A musical tribute can consist of the deceased person’s favorite music or artist.  It can be a collection of funeral songs, or it can consist of spiritual and uplifting pieces.  Other examples of visual tributes include video montages, photo albums, scrapbooks, and collages.

Horticultural Bereavement Gifts

Many people – the majority, in fact, choose to give horticultural bereavement gifts.  These can be plants, flowers, or other greenery.  There are certain types of plants which symbolize peace and grieving. Where flowers are concerned, it can be roses, lilies, carnations, or orchids.  Saplings which symbolize bereavement include the Scottish Pine, the English Oak, the Mountain Ash and the Silver Birch.  As for bushes, these can include the Pussy Willow, the Rose, Mountain Laurel, Flowering Quince, and Lilac.

Material Bereavement Gifts

These are the types of bereavement gifts which can be purchased at regular stores (offline or online).  Typical items which may be given during the grieving period include jewelry, art, angels, outdoor items, plaques, and books.  Jewelry items can include cremation necklaces, mothers’ rings, birthstone earrings, charm bracelets, lapel pins, and cross necklaces.  Under the category of general art, we have figurines, statues, murals, paintings, photographs, and plaques.  Outdoor items include engraved stones, garden benches, and wind chimes.  Prayer books, the Bible, poetry books, and the like, can also be given to the grieving party.

Edible Bereavement Gifts

One of the most personal types of bereavement gift is the edible kind.  It would mean a lot to those left behind, if you took some time to prepare food for them.  Something as simple as baked goods, or prepared meals, ready to freeze, can show them that you care.  During times of mourning, the family and friends of the deceased might have less time and attention to spend on cooking and caring for their personal health, but a lack of nourishing food can make the loss even more difficult to bear.  If you choose a high-quality, comforting, and even nourishing food, your gift can truly help them.

This post was originally published on In Loving Memory Poems at Bereavement Gifts.

You showed me life
Revealing the secrets

You read my soul
Unwarranted love

*******

You took a path
I could not follow

A right reclaimed
and granted
a thousandfold

*******

Time, re-created,
Is now a gate onto the future

And beyond that gate
Your future has now begun

by Els van den Eynde

This post was originally published on In Loving Memory Poems at Daring Time.

Evening star
On canyon rim
Orion’s image
In Nepal land
A mountain’s love
Were you, my child

Motionless trees
Stood the sky
On moonlit nights
For you, my child

Horizon your prayer
Waterfall your music
The splendor cathedral
Your life, my child

Ama Dablam, a necklace offered
To me, your flesh and blood

When you said, a day resplendent
Fatality broke your song

- by Els van den Eynde

This post was originally published on In Loving Memory Poems at Ama Dablam – Mother’s Necklace.