Easter Sunday Rumination

In my end is my beginning. –– T. S. Eliot, ‘East Coker’ from The Four Quartets

In the past few months, three of our longtime friends had died, one from Covid, two from other health issues, all unexpected. What hope do three heartbroken widows have if not for that very good Friday and the magnificent Sunday shedding the hope of reunion in a glorious eternity.

The poet John Donne puts into words boldly in his 1633 sonnet.

Death, be not Proud

Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery.
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than thy stroke; why swell’st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.

Centuries later, a Kentucky farmer has written some down-to-earth lines. Wendell Berry’s poem for Easter calls for turning the belief into action. Resurrection begins now:

A Poem on Easter

The little stream sings
in the crease of the hill.
It is the water of life. It knows
nothing of death, nothing.
And this is the morning
of Christ’s resurrection.
The tomb is empty. There is
no death. Death is our illusion,
our wish to belong only
to ourselves, which is our freedom
to kill one another.
From this sleep may we too
rise, as out of the dark grave.

…..

He is risen.

Live out that Hope.

Practice resurrection.

***

Published by

Arti

If she’s not birding by the Pond, Arti’s likely watching a movie, reading, or writing a review. Creator of Ripple Effects, bylines in Asian American Press, Vague Visages, Curator Magazine.

8 thoughts on “Easter Sunday Rumination”

  1. I’m so sorry for your loss, Arti, but glad for the shared hope of resurrection. I’m especially glad for your inclusion of the Berry poem, which I didn’t know, and for that wise advice from one of his other poems: practice resurrection. Blessed Easter!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  2. God bless you and yours, Arti. All hope in Jesus, always. Just watched the movie RISEN … about Jesus rising from the dead. Wonderful depiction!!
    C-Marie

    Like

    Reply

  4. There was a stretch of time when my mom was feeling the weight of consecutive losses. Her friends and their families had the hope of resurrection, but that weight (along with pandemic separation) was heavy indeed. I’m glad to know you are practicing resurrection and have hope, even while you grieve. Looking forward with you.

    Like

    Reply

    1. Covid definitely makes it much harder to show support by coming together. I’ve seen quite a few celebration of life services on Zoom these past couple of years. Yes, it’s that eternal Hope that gives us strength. Thanks for stopping by and leaving your thoughts.

      Like

      Reply

  5. Three longtime friends…that’s tough. Navigating the world of being a widow is hard, too. My list of widows that I pray for is getting longer. May they accept God’s comfort and I hope that they get the support God wants for them. So glad our hope is beyond this world!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment