Living On

(Cynthia’s wisdom)

You will live on.

This is your gift —

Your aliveness

with which you feel

every incredible tender thing —

the supple softness of rose petals,

the rush of breath against your heart,

stirrings of life forces

across your skin

You are alive

and you can bring them with you,

the ones you loved —

You haven’t lost them

because they live in you.

You can’t leave them

any more than you could leave

your bones, your blood

You have to take them with you

(which is what you wanted anyway)

This is your gift

to you and your loved ones —

You take them with you 

as you live on.

©Wendy Mulhern

June 29, 2014