How can it be that a person I never met can be known to me as Kimi was, on this board, in my prayers, in my thoughts as her pictures were posted, as Linda and I relayed news of her progress to each other? But then again, we are unknown to ourselves, let alone to our loved ones, let alone to our friends, however they may enter our lives, person-to-person or however else a soul may communicate with a soul, in letter, or on the internet, however the very many ways there are that may catch our hearts off guard and open them to another. And then break them.
May she rest in a peace more well-deserved than so many others. I look forward to the day of meeting her and perhaps she will say, “Oh I know you; you were that boring old poster from NDNation,” and I will say “that’s right, that’s me!” and we will both laugh. At home, free from this vale of tears.
From the Holy Sonnets:
Death, be not proud
John Donne
Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.