Have you ever thought of what happens when a loved one dies, or for that matter, what may happen when you die? Inspired by a discussion in April 2024 with a young person at the church I attend when thinking about life and death, and perhaps being somewhat informed by the death of my mother in November 2023, I put together the poem entitled Heavenly Stars.
Death can be a pretty scary subject to think about; never mind discuss. There is certainly a great unknown other than with what we control, the physical body, and a lot is influenced by our religious upbringing and our faith and spirituality.
To those ‘dying’, the questions relate to our peace of mind, our legacy and whether/how we will be remembered. Although there is the big question as to whether we are going to ‘heaven’ or ‘hell’. That question begs all kind of religious questions and I am not going to go there. To me, we are born pure and when we die, our soul such as it is, gets to live forever in whatever one wishes to call ‘their forever home’. My vision is floating on a cloud in a world without evil, and serving as an angel for those on Earth.
To those being ‘left behind’, if we believe that the soul continues to live forever, then for most of us, that should give some piece of mind. On the other hand, if that person has had challenges in living with respect for others, then there may well be many of us on Earth who say ‘good riddance’ and ‘hope there is a hell’. Let’s focus on the majority though. What do you feel? Or what do you say to a child who has experienced the death of a parent or sibling or friend? How do you keep alive the memory of those who died?
Heavenly Stars is my attempt to explain my views and beliefs.
Heavenly Stars
My son said to me as we looked to the sky
Papa, where is it one goes when they die?
I asked him why he wanted to know
He responded that a friend would soon have to go
How does one answer to one not yet seven
Try to explain what we consider heaven
I hugged him close as we looked into the night
And as I did, the stars became o’ so bright
It was like all who had died were listening in
And now were with me as I did begin
I started to hum a song from long ago
One that made me smile and feel aglow
Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are
For there before me and not that far
Was the answer that explained a lot
And might ease his mind without more fraught
Son, see the stars way above so bright
They are little holes in the sky of night
Through those holes, the angels see
Whatever is happening to you and me
Thus, when one dies be it young or old
Their spirit flies to where their story’s told
Heaven is what we call that place
Where angels gather and live with grace
Once in heaven, one lives forever
Sickness, fighting, and hunger never
They’re with their families and their friends
It’s like a party that never ends
During the day, while we cannot them see
They live within us for we’re their legacy
Yet when the skies become really dark
The command is given to ‘behold and hark’
That means they watch and listen hard
Being with us and standing guard
They use the holes in the skies
To listen in and place their eyes
And from the holes, their eyes shine bright
Ever twinkling through the night
We call them stars for that is their shape
With us forever, and with love agape
My son was looking to the brightening skies
Squinting hard with his wondering eyes
He said ‘I feel better with the stars so bright,
I am not alone be it day or night’
Dad, can we sing that song of stars
About them twinkling up so far
I love you so and am glad you’re here
Yet the stars mean I have no fear
To those who are the stars above
I thank you deeply for your love
You’re with me now and light my way
One day I’ll join you I do pray
Then a new star I will be
As my son does look up to see
Whether I’m watching, and by his side
Even if that means I have died
We walk our life path never alone
Touching others as our seeds are sown
By our acts of kindness and words of grace
Daily practice to be stars in space.
Leave a Reply