November 2, 2013

All Souls Day, 2013


Today is All Souls Day, a day to remember those who have gone before us, those who have shed the old and heavy coat of this life on earth. Four years ago I was inspired by the glory of the fall colour to write a poem about All Souls Day. I have re-posted it each year and today, I will share it again. It still resonates with me. Perhaps when you read it, you will insert the names of your own loved ones and those who have inspired you and are no longer with us.





All Souls Day

Today I am taking some time to remember
 all those souls I have known
who have moved on from this mixed bag of beauty and sorrow: 
Lea, Peter, Nana and Grandad, Granny and Grampa,
 Grampa Warren, Great-Grandad Matthew, Nana Brown,
and schoolmates 
Pat, Laurel, Jason, and Rodi
For whom we now pray.

Also those souls I did not know but think of nonetheless: 
my brother Michael who was born and died long before I came along,
(Would I be here had he lived?)
various ancestors whose DNA I share with my children
 and authors and artists who filled the treasure chest of thought and vision
I look to for inspiration and comfort -
'We read to know we are not alone,' says C.S. Lewis' student in Shadowlands

And then there are those with no one to remember them
in November we look upon the trees
singing their swan song in ruby red dress
Spirits waving in the fields
seem to say 'Vanity, vanity, all is vanity,' 
'Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die' 
My heart reaches out to lift them up and set them free
to the place where I hope to go
someday long from now
if only someone will remember me


Empty swings on  the Harrison beach lagoon

The above post is an edited and updated version of my post from 2012. I just wanted to share it again.
I hope you are having a good weekend. 

9 comments:

  1. I was reading a blog today where the author spoke of how all her readers mattered. I will borrow her thoughts and relate it to what you've said. All who you speak of "mattered."

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  2. Just lovely. It's particularly poignant for me reading it on this beautifully sunny Remembrance Day morning, thanks for sharing your poem again Rebecca.

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    1. Thank you, Jane. I will read it again, too. One of my grandads trained soldiers in Canada and England, and the other one worked here in essential services (railways) during the Second World War. I like to think of them today, too.

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  3. Hello Rebecca, You must be busy because you haven't posted lately! I hope all is well and look forward to your next post.

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    1. With having to write 2500 words of my novel per day I have been too pre-occupied to concentrate on any other writing projects. When I’m not writing I’m cooking or shopping or driving, or thinking about my novel. I do think of you and all my blogger friends often, hoping everyone is well and feeling a bit bad for not keeping up with your posts, but November is almost over and then....I’ll Be Back!

      I’m very well, actually feeling great about my project. Thanks so much for checking in. It’s like a virtual hug :)

      Cheers, and enjoy your weekend!
      Rebecca

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    2. Thanks for updating us, Rebecca. I'd forgotten about the novel. Continued best wishes!
      EnJoy your weekend, too. xo

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