JOHN DONNE, 1624
"Any man's death diminishes me,"
a truth pointed out to us long ago,
is as true as ever. And it is more true
and obvious after one has breathed
and has trodden the earth for many
decades. Some losses are felt more
than others...
It is true also that the closer in one's
life that he is to another man or woman
the more he is diminished.
How are we affected? Need we count
all the ways? Some might posit that
death is a victorious time at which we
remember and celebrate the lives of the
departed.
Any way we see it, they are missed and we
are lessened.
Consider our peers---our early childhood
friends, our comrades we graduated high
school with---seeing or corresponding
with them! We all from time to time---say
to them something like: "Remember that
night or that game or some event..."
This sharing somehow refreshes us, takes
us back, reinforces us, cheers us...as we
once more relive old times that were part
of our history and part of us---("I am a part
of all I have met...")
But... as times goes on and more "pieces
of the promontory" wash away, we become
fewer and fewer, and the body is lessened
until maybe only two are left---custodians
of marvelous memories...and then...there
is only ONE...... who remembers.
He is the most diminished ...of all...
John Donne was right. I know.
*************
BY MIL
22 AUGUST 18
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