On The Death Of The Beloved Poem by John O'Donohue

On The Death Of The Beloved

Rating: 4.4


Though we need to weep your loss,
You dwell in that safe place in our hearts,
Where no storm or night or pain can reach you.

Your love was like the dawn
Brightening over our lives
Awakening beneath the dark
A further adventure of colour.

The sound of your voice
Found for us
A new music
That brightened everything.

Whatever you enfolded in your gaze
Quickened in the joy of its being;
You placed smiles like flowers
On the altar of the heart.
Your mind always sparkled
With wonder at things.

Though your days here were brief,
Your spirit was live, awake, complete.

We look towards each other no longer
From the old distance of our names;
Now you dwell inside the rhythm of breath,
As close to us as we are to ourselves.

Though we cannot see you with outward eyes,
We know our soul's gaze is upon your face,
Smiling back at us from within everything
To which we bring our best refinement.

Let us not look for you only in memory,
Where we would grow lonely without you.
You would want us to find you in presence,
Beside us when beauty brightens,
When kindness glows
And music echoes eternal tones.

When orchids brighten the earth,
Darkest winter has turned to spring;
May this dark grief flower with hope
In every heart that loves you.

May you continue to inspire us:

To enter each day with a generous heart.
To serve the call of courage and love
Until we see your beautiful face again
In that land where there is no more separation,
Where all tears will be wiped from our mind,
And where we will never lose you again.

Thursday, May 7, 2015
Topic(s) of this poem: love
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Jonathan 15 July 2020

A deep and sensitive poem, for someone very close. I'm including part of it in my Funeral/Memorial Service.

16 5 Reply
Catherine 11 November 2018

What beauty lies in this poem.

12 0 Reply
Lisa Alemany-kunzler 26 August 2017

Beautifully written and felt. Is this translated into Spanish? ? If so, how would I locate this?

5 4 Reply
Marion 29 January 2021

I‘ll translate it for you if this still Servers

2 3
Marion 29 January 2021

I‘ll translate it for you if it still serves you

1 0
Nabakishore Dash 02 February 2024

Extraordinary write that shows deepest love.

0 0 Reply
Veronica Charging Bear 10 September 2023

This is exactly what I was feeling for my loved ones that passed on

0 0 Reply
Joseph Kanyekanye 14 August 2022

Very profound and deep

1 0 Reply
Barbara Clafton 30 June 2022

A very touching poem. My 18 month old grandson passed away very suddenly recently and I coukd not put into words what I wanted to say. This poem said everything I needed to voice xx thankyou x

1 0 Reply
Mohan Kapoor 18 June 2022

Touches the innermost corner of my heart!

1 0 Reply
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