When death comes

When death comes

like the hungry bear in autumn;

when death comes and tales all the bright coins from his purse

to buy me, ans snaps the purse shut...



I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering:

what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness?



And therefore I look upon everything

as a brotherhood and a sisterhood,...

and I think o each life as a flower, as common

as a field daisy, and as singular...

and each body a lion of courage, and something

precious to the earth.



When it's over, I want to say: all my life

I was a bride married to amazement.

I was the brigdegroom, taking the world into my arms...

Mary Oliver, in: Jack Kornfield, After the Ecstasy the Laundry