do·mes·tic·i·ty: A Celebration of Life

My life closed twice before its close-

It yet remains to see

If Immortality unveil

A third event to me

So huge, so hopeless to conceive

As these that twice befell.

Parting is all we know of heaven,

And all we need of hell.

-Emily Dickinson

and

Because I could not stop for Death-

He kindly stopped for me-

The Carriage held but just Ourselves-

And Immortality.

We slowly drove-He knew no haste

And I had put away

My labor and my leisure too,

For His Civility-

We passed the School, where Children strove

At Recess-in the Ring-

We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain-

We passed the Setting Sun-

Or rather-He passed Us-

The Dews drew quivering and chill-

For only Gossamer, my Gown-

My Tippet-only Tulle-

We paused before a House that seemed

A Swelling of the Ground-

The Roof was scarcely visible-

The Cornice-in the Ground

Since then-'tis Centuries-and yet

Feels shorter than the Day

I first surmised the Horses' Heads

Were toward Eternity-

-Emily Dickinson

Last night was the Celebration of Life for v, my beautiful man. I am overwhelmed with the turnout. Above are two of the readings I chose to formalize the occasion, as well as a reading of the 23rd Psalm (a new interpretation of that psalm).

The readings were followed by an amazing hour of people stepping up to speak of what v meant to them, of their fondest memories, and their grief in his passing. If only the dead can hear what we say of them after they have left us. He would have been as tearful as many of us and so very, very honored. He was a loved man and has left many a hole in lives that won't be filled.