Morning Fog at Rainbow Park copyright Christopher Bolane All rights reserved.

Poetry as Expression of Loss

Separation
a poem by W.W. Merwin
Read it here

Dying Matters
Poetry can help in dealing with grief and loss. The poems about dying the are part of this website may bring solace and comfort, putting into words some of the most difficult and painful emotions associated with dying and bereavement.
Read the poems

Death Poems

In Japanese culture it has been a custom to write a poem on the last day of your life. Frank Ostaseski, founder of the Zen Hospice Project, and renowned expert on compassionate care for the dying shares the final journey of Sono, one of the hospice “guests” and the beautiful death poem she wrote on the last day of her life.

Poetry as Tribute

Perhaps the most lasting tribute you can give to a family member or a friend is to write a poem about your relationship and admiration for them. Here is an example of one such poem written by Sean J. O’Connor, MD at the loss of a life-long friend.

A Fallen Feather
I stood, awhile, by my friend’s new resting place,
listening for some music to soothe his soul.
Mid the river’s murmur and rustling leaves,
A nearby dove mourned with me.

I surveyed, awhile, through quiet tears,
the realm we so often flew together.
There, a red-tailed hawk circled thrice,
beckoning us both towards forever.

I knelt, awhile, to say good-bye,
but found, instead, a fallen feather.
A keepsake from a fellow flier;
I’ll save it ‘til we meet again.

Art that Celebrates the Beauty of Age and Honors Dying

Deidre Scherer

Textile artist Deidre Scherer has been creating evocative and elegant portraits of elders and dying people in softly colored small print fabrics for many years. She has a way of capturing the genuine emotions of the moment and the essence of the individual with only fabric, thread and a keen sense of observation. She has exhibited her work in galleries. Her fine works are featured in the film below.

Discover more of Deidre’s incredibly sensitive art Here

AT NIGHT, thread on fabric, 36 x 48”, © Deidre Scherer 2000

DVD
Holding Our Own
Embracing the End of Life
A beautiful film that awakens the heart and mind to the transformative gifts found at the end of life. Featuring author Ira Byock, MD, textile artist Deidre Scherer and the hospice chorus Hallowell Singers in a powerful, yet tender treatment of life’s final passage.
Order the DVD HERE

Art to Heal a Wounded Heart

Colleen Moss. PhD.

Heart Healing
After her husband’s unexpected and sudden death from cancer, Dr. Colleen Moss began to paint a series of paintings as a way to cope with her grief. Over a three-year period, she painted 12 canvases that chronicle her transformational journey through her personal grief process. These paintings were later compiled into an annotated exhibit called “Wounded Hearts: A Journey Through Grief.” She has integrated her practice in psychology into Heart Healing sessions for people who have experienced trauma and loss.

Discover more of Colleen’s art HERE.

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