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The Laughing Heart
your life is your lifeA year ago I mourned the loss of my beautiful friend. I wrote about the strength she gave me in her life and in her death here. A few days ago, almost a year later, I came across this poem and it immediately reminded me of my friend's love for life.
don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.
be on the watch.
there are ways out.
there is a light somewhere.
it may not be much light but
it beats the darkness.
be on the watch.
the gods will offer you chances.
know them.
take them.
you can’t beat death but
you can beat death in life, sometimes.
and the more often you learn to do it,
the more light there will be.
your life is your life.
know it while you have it.
you are marvellous
the gods wait to delight
in you.Charles Bukowski
We would talk for hours of our dreams and crazy ideas and egg each other on. I think we both gave each other the courage to take risks and strive to be the best versions of ourselves. Buddhist meditation, yoga, crochet, ukulele workshops, Glastonbury festival, painting classes and holidays, a trip to South America, reiki training and growing veg on her allotment were just some of the things she packed into her last years. You can imagine what an interesting person and amazing friend she was. A year on, I know ours was a precious
friendship that I was very privileged to share.I don't know if she ever read this poem but I know she would have loved it as she seized every chance she had to let light into her life and beat the darkness.
This poem is for my friend, for the ideals we shared, and for anyone else reading who maybe needs reminding that there is light even in darkness.
Your life, your greatest possession.
