“Life Means All That It Ever Meant”

Published on by J. Kelland Perry
 The past few years have taken our mother on a difficult journey, and our family right along with her.
Mercifully, she finally succumbed to her illness last week, and

we were able to say our goodbyes as she entered into her eternal rest.

I found this poem that speaks of my sweet mother’s lifelong attitude of pragmatism and hope. Somehow it gives me strength and reassurance, reminding me how lucky I was to have known and loved this woman who was my mother.

 All Is Well
Death is nothing at all.
I have only slipped away to the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other,
That we are still.
Call me by my old familiar name,
Speak to me in the easy way
which you always used.
Put no difference in your tone,

Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

 Laugh as we always laughed
at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was,

Let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of a shadow on it.

 Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was,
There is absolute, unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind
because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you,
for an interval.
Somewhere very near.
Just around the corner.

All is well.

 Henry Scott Holland
1847-1918

15 thoughts on ““Life Means All That It Ever Meant””

  1. Our paths could not have been more opposite. Don’t feel sorry for me, it has made me the warrior I am against those who have no conscience. At the same time, I am glad for you. I can’t begin to imagine all that is lost, but then I did lose a daughter and she is still right here tucked up inside my heart. That too is love.

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    1. Lea, I’m so sorry about your daughter. How old was she and how long has it been? I don’t know what your path was like before that, but did you blog about it? I’d be happy to read it if you could direct me to it.
      Mom and Dad have been gone for years now, since 2012 and 2003 respectively. I still miss them every single day.

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      1. Jennifer, Jacqueline died a few weeks before her second birthday. Here is one I wrote about her. However it was years later. https://poetryphotosandmusingsohmy.wordpress.com/2012/05/26/and-the-rain-fell/
        My earlier life would curl Stephen King’s hair but I am a survivor and it made me what/who I am. When working in Child Protection and other agencies, it was hard to pull one over on me as I’ve been through it all and, I’m an empath…

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          1. Jennifer, I am so glad you liked Jacqueline’s poem. For years I would get so depressed when it rained and couldn’t understand why. It hadn’t always been that way. They when I wrote the poem, I understood and now the rain is just a soft reminder of her laughter. ❤ BTW, there are other poems sprinkled about in that blog which share my path. Some are even funny. ❤

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  2. Thank you, all. This has truly been a week of deep reflection, and with such wonderful memories to help me through. Yes, there is an ache in my heart right now, but in time perhaps it will ease and I will be able to look back without the tears. I just have to remember how blessed I was to have such sweet, loving parents.

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  4. Jennifer what a Beautiful Tribute to your Mom i would have been at the funeral home but i came to visit my family in Alberta early November. One thing no one can replace or take away from you is the Memories of both your Mom and Dad. I truly hope there is a Heaven and they are Happy together. You are a strong and remarkable person and look forward to reading more of your entertaining stories

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  6. What an absolutely beautiful poem Jen. Love the pictures as well and as Carolyn just mentioned, I always loved her brilliant smile.

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