Helen’s Insights: Death puts Life into Perspective

Yesterday, I received the tragic news that one of my oldest friends had died.  Just even writing that seems beyond belief. As a fallout of my divorce, our long relationship had become a casualty.  Nobody’s ‘fault’ – just ‘life’.  But just last week, she’d reached out to me again.  We spoke a couple of times and I’d promised to call her again when I returned from the States on Saturday.  But that turned out to be too late.  My memory file has flipped into overdrive and I’m overwhelmed by the constant stream of recollections.

I reached for words to help and as soon as I read this, by Thomas Hardy, I was visualising Del’s vivacious smile and hearing her constant, raucous laughter.  For anybody else grieving for loved ones, I hope these words help you too.

“Regret Not Me”
Regret not me;
Beneath the sunny tree
I lie uncaring, slumbering peacefully.
Swift as the light
I flew my faery flight:
Ecstatically I moved, and feared no night.
I did not know
That heydays fade and go.
But deemed that what was would be always so.
I skipped at morn
Between the yellowing corn,
Thinking it good and glorious to be born.
I ran at eves
Among the piled-up sheaves,
Dreaming, ‘I grieve not, therefore nothing grieves.’
Now soon will come
The apple, pear and plum,
And hinds will sing, and autumn insects hum.
Again you will fare
To cider-makings rare,
And junketings; but I shall not be there.
Yet gaily sing
Until the pewter ring
Those songs we sang when we went gipsying.
And lightly dance
Some triple-timed romance
In coupled figures, and forget mischance;
And mourn not me
Beneath the yellowing tree;
For I shall mind not, slumbering peacefully.

Dedicated to my dear, dear friend Del. Sleep peacefully x