…Liz. I just looked up the poem and discover it must be YOU that added that devastating closing line!
“And when all that is left of me is love; give me away…”
This is as fine a line as has ever appeared in the journal from anyone so I sure do hope it is from you. In any case, you brought it to us. Thank you

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Good morning Erie. I can not take credit for that line. A friend shared the entire poem at her mothers funeral, attributed to “anonymous.” I shared it at my brother’s celebration of life..However, with additional research I learned who the name of the author.
Here is the poem entirety.
“When I die
Give what’s left of me away
To children
And old men that wait to die.
And if you need to cry,
Cry for your brother
Walking the street beside you
And when you need me,
Put your arms
Around anyone
And give to them
What you need to give to me.
I want to leave you something,
Something better
Than words
Or sounds.
Look for me
In the people I’ve known
Or loved,
And if you cannot give me away,
At least let me live in your eyes
And not on your mind.
You can love me most
By letting
Hands touch hands
By letting
Bodies touch bodies
And by letting go
Of children
That need to be free.
Love doesn’t die,
People do.
So, when all that’s left of me
Is love,
Give me away”
― Merrit Malloy

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Here is the original poem by Shawna Lemay, which I hope makes up for my changing it up a bit… and thank you for your lovely affirmation, Erie!
Although I love flowers very much, I won’t see them when I’m gone. So in lieu of flowers: Buy a book of poetry written by someone still alive, sit outside with a cup of tea, a glass of wine, and read it out loud, by yourself or to someone, or silently.
Spend some time with a single flower. A rose maybe. Smell it, touch the petals.
Really look at it.
Drink a nice bottle of wine with someone you love.
Or, Champagne. And think of what John Maynard Keynes said, “My only regret in life is that I did not drink more Champagne.” Or what Dom Perignon said when he first tasted the stuff: “Come quickly! I am tasting stars!”
Take out a paint set and lay down some colours.
Watch birds. Common sparrows are fine. Pigeons, too. Geese are nice. Robins.
In lieu of flowers, walk in the trees and watch the light fall into it. Eat an apple, a really nice big one. I hope it’s crisp.
Have a long soak in the bathtub with candles, maybe some rose petals.
Sit on the front stoop and watch the clouds. Have a dish of strawberry ice cream in my name.
If it’s winter, have a cup of hot chocolate outside for me. If it’s summer, a big glass of ice water.
If it’s autumn, collect some leaves and press them in a book you love. I’d like that.
Sit and look out a window and write down what you see. Write some other things down.
In lieu of flowers,
I would wish for you to flower.
I would wish for you to blossom, to open, to be beautiful.

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What a lovely response and remembrance of such a fine friend of yours, Elaine and what an extraordinary gifting of a friendship, one to treasure always, as I know you do. Thank you, Jolyon. Thank you for your blessing which I extend to you and your precious family.

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