When I Think of Death
By Maya Angelou
When I think of death, and of late the idea has come with
alarming frequency, I seem at peace with the idea that a day
will dawn when I will no longer be among the living in this
valley of strange humors.
I can accept the idea of my own demise, but I am unable to
accept the death of anyone else.
I find it impossible to let a friend or relative go into that
country of no return.
Disbelief becomes my close companion and anger follows in
its wake-
I answer the heroic question ‘Death, where is thy sting?’ with
‘it is here in my heart and mind and memories.’
I love the idea that we are supposed to feel everything and that no feeling is final. This reminds me of William Blake, "The deeper the sorrow, the greater the joy."