Jane Kenyon (1947-1995 / United States)
Poems by Jane Kenyon : 12 / 24
Notes from the Other Side
I divested myself of despair
and fear when I came here.
Now there is no more catching
one's own eye in the mirror,
there are no bad books, no plastic,
no insurance premiums, and of course
no illness. Contrition
does not exist, nor gnashing
of teeth. No one howls as the first
clod of earth hits the casket.
The poor we no longer have with us.
Our calm hearts strike only the hour,
and God, as promised, proves
to be mercy clothed in light.
Jane Kenyon
Submitted: Monday, January 20, 2003
Read poems about / on: mirror, despair, fear, light, god, howl
Poems by Jane Kenyon : 12 / 24
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My friend, who passed this week
Smiles between the lines
Of death defined in
Notes from the Other Side.
Only Jane Kenyon could
Capture these images
Of life and death so fine.