From Jean Dickenson's funeral...

[fajrdrako]

"You can shed tears that she is gone
Or you can smile that she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all she's left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see her
Or you can be full of the love you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and think of yesterday
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her and only that she's gone
Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back,
Or you can do what she'd want: smile, open your eyes,
Love and go on."

Comments

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

I'm printing this out and sticking it up somewhere. I keep looking at my parents and realising that they won't be around indefinitely, and the thought scares me. This helps, even as it's making me cry. :)

Who is Jean Dickenson? Did she write this?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, I thought the whole piece was a beautiful reminder of the value of people and their lives.

Jean Dickenson was a Dunnett fan in England, and friend of Jo Kirkham. I don't think I ever met her, though I'd heard about her. I believe she used to go to the Rye meetings. She died last week and Jo reported on her funeral, which I think was yesterday, at which this was read. I don't think she wrote this... let me look it up.... Here it is, at She is Gone (http://www.poeticexpressions.co.uk/POEMS/You%20can%20shed%20tears%20that%20she%20is%20gone.htm) where it says the poem was written in 1981 by David Harkins and sometimes attributed to "Anon."