#TBT - What's It Like To Write An Obituary?

When I look back at the Memories page on Facebook, I am usually smiling. I see photos of past fun events, and humorous posts about whatever. Perhaps Facebook's best feature is that it creates for us a history that reminds us of things we tend to allow to fall away from our memory. Then, occasionally, it reminds us of events that evoked strong emotion. Have you ever had to write an Obituary for a loved one who has died? Tough job. How do you capture a person's humanity in a few words?

OBITUARY

I wrote your obituary today.
I told the truth
But not the whole truth.
I wrote the truth that we all tell each other
and others
and post on Facebook walls
and in Newspapers
I didn’t write the truth we keep in our hearts.

I didn’t write about the battles we fought together
and alone.
I didn’t write about the secrets we kept from others
and from ourselves.
I didn’t write about the truths we humans
don’t want others to know.

I wrote about your accomplishments
I wrote about the love others had for you
I wrote about the public face
we all show the world.

But, I didn’t write about your incandescent eyes
I didn’t write about your caring soul
I didn’t write about the wry tilt of your head
When I was being ridiculous.

I didn’t write about the words we spoke
in the night.
I didn’t write the truths we admitted to each other
in the early morning light.
I didn’t write about our sins, our faults, or our failings.
I didn’t write about the daily struggles we faced
in a world consumed by desire and evil.

I wanted to write about the heartache of a string of days without you.
I wanted to express the pain of loss
I wanted to tell the world that you were the best person I ever knew.

I only told them what they wanted to hear.

Comments

[Dan Evers]

Poignant,and beautiful. I had to write my youngest brother's a few years ago. A moment when there are all the words, and there are no words. Thank you, Rick