Death Is Nothing At All
Poem by Henry Scott Holland
Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped away to the next room.
I am I and you are you.
Whatever we were to each other,
That, we still are.
Call me by my old familiar name.
Speak to me in the easy way
which you always used.
Put no difference into your tone.
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed
at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me. Pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word
that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effect.
Without the trace of a shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same that it ever was.
There is absolute unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind
because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you.
For an interval.
Somewhere. Very near.
Just around the corner.
All is well.
Nothing is past; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before only better, infinitely happier and forever we will all be one together with Christ.
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Read poems about / on: sorrow, together, smile, death
Henry,
Report ReplyI had mixed feelings about where you were going until the last sentence. All my confidence in my forever rests in trust in Jesus Christ, my Lord. He is the one who will bind us all together in one eternal family, He alone. Bless you for claiming Christ.
A beautiful poem and it was timely given to me before I found it on here, when two funeral services took place of two very good friends of mine! Beautiful thoughts in a poem Henry thank you.
Report ReplyOutstanding content causing every reader to think about those they've lost. Comforting. Thanks so much.
Report ReplyHenry, I loved this poem. It expresses the hope that we all have that we will be reunited with loved ones somewhere in the spirit world. It is, however, stronger without the last line, ending with " Nothing is past; nothing is lost." I think, as poets, we need to realize that, universally speaking, many people do not follow Christianity, and they, too, deserve a voice. The last line shuts out so many who need the lessons of this poem. Thanks so much for sharing.
Report ReplyA great, alternative perspective on the end of life!
Report ReplyI feel so comforted and consoled by it’s assurance of re-union with loved ones in the after-life.
Report ReplyKate would like others to think of her this way.
Report ReplyI love this paragraph: Life means all that it ever meant...There is absolute unbroken continuity. The words are beautiful, intuitive and insightful.
Report ReplyNever death is nothing at all, dear when the times of food end that time for death, god knows about everything I am poet I can understand you but my right is teach what wrong, so I teach you but I could not level of you, your poem in top of hots poems congratulation dear poet..Abdul Qayyum Mulla
Report ReplyGood take on a view of death.. always have hope!
Report ReplyHelps me so very much in my sorrow
Report ReplyOne of the most capturing and substanceful works I have seen on this site since Michael Shepherd and Herbert Nehrlich....[FjR-2020]
Report ReplyThis poem of death is like life all around us.
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Already Reported ReplyNot impressed.. ur mum
Lovely and comforting poem but it did bring a tear to my eye.
Report ReplyI am a Christian. While it is likely that the priest-author would agree with the added sentiment, it is NOT right that anyone should add to this work. The site should remove this version if it true that it has been modified/adulterated.
Report ReplyLife means all that it ever meant and death is nothing at all. This is a true path to renew life. We should not at all fear death. Everything is amazingly said here. An excellent sharing is done really...
Report ReplyI have read tor one poem so real and nice.
Report ReplyAh so lovely. He is speaking of the truth!
Report ReplyAll is well.
Report ReplyNothing is past;
nothing is lost.
One brief moment
and all will be as it was before
only better,
infinitely happier and forever we will
all be one together with Christ./// superb and excellent poem; at all great expression on the death positively through the faith of religion/// love it