8/10/2008

The Next Place

Our dear friend Monty Q's little bean sister, Violette affectionately known as Sprout died unexpectedly at 3 months old. We have no words, so we will borrow Warren Hanson's from his book, The Next Place.

The Next Place

The next place that I go
will be as peaceful and familiar
as a sleepy summer Sunday
and a sweet, untroubled mind.

And yet….it won’t be anything like any place I’ve ever been…
or seen…or dreamed of
in the place I leave behind.

I won’t know where I’m going,
and I won’t know where I’ve been
as I tumble through the always
and look back toward the when.

I’ll glide beyond the rainbows.
I’ll drift above the sky.
I’ll fly into the wonder,
without ever wondering why.

I won’t remember getting there.
Somehow I’ll just arrive.
But I’ll know that I belong there
and will feel much more alive
than I have ever felt before.
I will be absolutely free of the things that I held onto
that were holding onto me.

The next place that I go
will be so quiet and so still
that the whispered song of sweet belonging will rise up to fill
the listening sky with joyful silence, and with unheard harmonies
of music made by no one playing,
like a hush upon a breeze.

There will be no room for darkness in that place of living light.
Where an ever-dawning morning pushes back the dying night.
The very air will fill with brilliance, as the brightly shining sun
and the moon and half a million stars are married into one.

The next place that I go
Won’t really be a place at all.
There won’t be any seasons—winter, summer, spring or fall—
Nor a Monday,
Nor a Friday,
Nor December,
Nor July.
And the seconds will be standing still…
while the hours hurry by.

I will not be a boy
or girl,
a woman
or a man.
I’ll simply be just,
simply me.
No worse or better than.

My skin will not be dark or light.
I won’t be fat or tall.
The body I once lived in
won’t be part of me at all.

I will finally be perfect.
I will be without a flaw.
I will never make one more mistake,
or break the smallest law.

And the me that was impatient,
or was angry or unkind,
will simply be a memory.
The me I left behind.

I will travel empty-handed.
There is not one single thing
I have collected in my life
that I would ever want to bring
except….
The love of those who loved me,
and the warmth of those who cared.
The happiness and memories
and magic that we shared.

Though I will know the joy of solitude…
I’ll never be alone.
I’ll be embraced
by all the family and friends
I’ve ever known.
Although I might not see their faces,
all our hearts will beat as one,
and the circle of our spirits
Will shine brighter than the sun.

Rest In Peace Sweet Violette

16 comments:

Asta said...

Thank you fow that bootifu lpoem..I hope it bwings some sowt of peace to sweet little sprouts pawents and family..this is so twagic..we can't stop cwying..we didn't even know them..sad sad smoochie kisses
ASTA

Kate (Pablo's mum) said...

It's a very, very sad day.

Max said...

I keep wanting to think it's not fair...but what do I know of fair in the Really Big Picture? All I know is that Monty and his family hurt so very much, and there's nothing we can do to help. :(

jenianddean said...

That poor baby. We are so shocked and saddened by this...
--Jasper

Goldie, Shade and Banshee said...

That is a beautiful poem. It got the PM crying again. It is going to be one of those days. The PM keeps hugging the wee ones and I think they think she has gone a bit crazy.

Such a tragedy.

Clover said...

Hendrix - we are so so sorry to hear this sad news today. I am sending my biggest, most snuggly hugs and love to you and your family, the baby's family, and your cat blogosphere family.
Love Clover & Mom

River said...

How terribly sad! We can't imagine the pain. The poem is beautiful and comforting.

love & wags,
River

catsynth said...

That's a wonderful poem in tribute to Violet. Our thoughts are with her family on this very sad day.

PB 'n J said...

This is so horrible. We are still leaky eyed here. It is a beautiful tribute to a sweet baby.

Daisy said...

That was very beautiful. I am trying to replace some of the sadness in my heart with hope. Hugs to you.

Jans Funny Farm said...

Beautiful poem for a very sad time.

Gretchen said...

That was a beautiful poem, Mr. Hendrix. It was a good choice.

We are purring for Monty and his bean family.

Hugs...Gretchen and Mike

Quill and Greyson said...

So very sad but it was a beautiful tribute Mr Hendrix.

Cat Street Boyz said...

Very nice poem Mr Hendrix....we hope you are feeling better today even in spite of such sorry-the Cat Street Boyz

Karen Jo said...

You found a beautiful poem for little Sprout. I hope it can bring some comfort to Monty Q's family in their terrible pain.

Simba and Jazzi said...

Such sad news.

Simba x