STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

blubirde · Chanel

Grieving Friend

NCshopper · Hermes

I'm really sorry to hear that. That's really awful.

I'm looking through Garrison Keillor's "Good Poems" book to see if anything seems to strike the right chord. I'll let you know if I come up with anything.

boobaby · Kate Spade

I'm so sorry for your friend.

Everyone grieves differently and appreciates different sentiments. One song about grief that I like is The Long Road by Eddie Vedder. I prefer the version he did on the America: Tribute to Heroes album. It is very moving but not trite. I just tried to look up the lyrics, though, and each site had a different version, none which match exactly what I hear when I listen to it.

NCshopper · Hermes

I found this poem that might be appropriate:

We Grow Accustomed to the Dark
by Emily Dickenson

We grow accustomed to the Dark--
When light is put away--
As when the Neighbor holds the Lamp
To witness her Goodbye--

A Moment--We uncertain step
For newness of the night--
Then--fit our Vision to the Dark--
And meet the Road--erect--

And so of larger--Darknesses
Those Evenings of the Brain--
When not a Moon disclose a sign--
Or Star--come out--within--

The Bravest--grope a little--
And sometimes hit a Tree
Directly in the Forehead--
But as they learn to see--

Either the Darkness alters--
Or something in the sight
Adjusts itself to Midnight--
And Life steps almost straight.

-- Edited by NCshopper at 06:37, 2007-10-09

blubirde · Chanel

Thanks for the suggestions. Here are some quotes I came across that I thought might be appropriate, but I think I'm going to use the ED poem.

"For certain is death for the born
And certain is birth for the dead;
Therefore over the inevitable
Thou shouldst not grieve."
- Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2 (maybe too preachy)

"Death--the last sleep? No, it is the final awakening." - Walter Scott (my friend is very religious)

"...joy and sorrow are inseparable ... together they come and when one sits alone with you... remember that the other is asleep upon your bed." - Kahlil Gibran

"When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight." - Kahlil Gibran

I'm leaning towards the poem. What do you guys think?

Hermes

blubirde wrote:

Thanks for the suggestions. Here are some quotes I came across that I thought might be appropriate, but I think I'm going to use the ED poem.

"For certain is death for the born
And certain is birth for the dead;
Therefore over the inevitable
Thou shouldst not grieve."
- Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2 (maybe too preachy)

"When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight." - Kahlil Gibran

I'm leaning towards the poem. What do you guys think?

I like both of these. I often say death is as much a part of life as birth. The last one puts a positive spin on grieving, since the grieving is over the loss of the positive things about the person.

Suasoria · Chanel

At my grandma's funeral last wee, I read the lyrics to "Bridge over Troubled Water" by Paul Simin/Simon & Garfunkel. It was totally appropriate for her since she made everyone and everything around her feel good, even during tough times.

When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all;
I'm on your side.
When times get rough
And friends just can't be found,
Like a bridge over troubled water,
I will lay me down.

When you're down and out,
When you're on the street,
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you.
I'll take your part
When darkness comes
And pain is all around,
Like a bridge over troubled water,
I will lay me down.

Sail on, Silvergirl,
Sail on by.
Your time has come to shine:
All your dreams are on their way.
See how they shine.
If you need a friend,
I'm sailing right behind.
Like a bridge over troubled water,
I will ease your mind.
Like a bridge over troubled water,
I will ease your mind.