Poetry

Here are some poems that I believe speak movingly about death and life. For copyright reasons I don't list the actual poems, but they can be found in various anthologies and on the web.

Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
—An inspiring poem about rising above adversity by one of our greatest contemporary poets.

Never Grow a Wishbone, Daughter….by Sarah McMane
—A moving poem about raising a daughter in a world that is sometimes hard.

The Summer Day, Poppies, and When Death Comes by Mary Olicer
—Mary Oliver writes movingly about death and life.

The Teaching of Tecumseh by Chief Tecumseh
—A powerful poem about death, inclusivity, and life.

Please Call Me By My True Names by Thich Nhat Hanh
—This leading peace activist wrote this poem after he learned about the death of a 12-year-old girl under horrible circumstances. It is also a subtle explication of one form of Zen thought.

Funeral Blues by W. H. Auden
—To me, this poem evokes the sadness of grief.

Tears are the Proof of Life by Rabbi Robert I. Kahn 
—I believe this is a compassionate and accurate depiction of the grieving process.