epitaph

the following is one of my favorite parts of shabbat services...known as the kaddish. it is a time to reflect on the loved ones we've lost and meditate on the meaning of love and loss, of life and death.

by Merrit Malloy

When I die
Give what's left of me away
To children
And old men that wait to die.
And if you need to cry,
Cry for your brother
Walking the street beside you.
And when you need me,
Put your arms
Around anyone
And give them
What you need to give to me.

I want to leave you something,
Something better
Than words
Or sounds.

Look for me
In the people I've known
Or loved,
And if you cannot give me away,
At least let me live in your eyes
And not on your mind.

You can love me most
By letting
Hands touch hands.
By letting
Bodies touch bodies.
And by letting go of children
That need to be free.

Love doesn't die.
People do.
So, when all that's left of me
Is love,
Give me away.