her funeral, and insisted it be a "celebration" rather than an occasion for mourning. Dozens of "E.T." balloons were released into the air, symbolizing "unconditional love." Perhaps we were to picture her bicycling through the sky toward home.Behind the balloons the painful fact of mourning remains: even a good death is seldom good for the survivors. The matter-of-fact mordancy of Emily Dickinson, the supreme poet of grief, may provide more balm to the mourner than the glad tidings of those who talk about how death can enrich us.
from Meghan O'Rourke: The New Yorker: Good Grief
~~~~~~~~~~~
No comments :
Post a Comment