Dance Of Life (Embracing Death) Poem by Mervyn Graham

In the quiet depths of night, we dare to ask of Death,
And he, with gentle wisdom, whispers back to us:
'To understand the essence of death, seek it within life's breath,
For intertwined they are, like river and sea, without fuss.

The owl, with sight unbound by day, cannot see the light,
So too, without embracing life, death remains a mystery veiled.
Open your heart wide, let life's essence take flight,
For in life's dance, death's secret is unveiled.

In the silent depths of dreams, lies knowledge of what's beyond,
Like seeds awaiting spring beneath winter's cold embrace.
Trust these dreams, for through them the eternal bond
Is revealed, where life and death meet face to face.

Fear not the inevitable, for it is but a shepherd's trembling,
Before the hand of the king, a mark of honor to be bestowed.
Find joy amidst the fear, a celebration resembling
The dance of life, where death's embrace is gently bestowed.

To die is to stand bare, embraced by wind and sun's embrace,
To release the breath, unshackled, to seek the divine.
Only in the river of silence, our true songs we trace,
And upon the mountain's peak, our ascent begins to shine.

When the earth reclaims our form, our essence shall dance free,
Joined with the eternal rhythm, in a cosmic ballet.
For in life's embrace, we find the key
To Death's mystery, in the light of day.

Mervyn Graham (cc 2024)

Poem formed from Kahlil Gibran's 'On Death'