- Last
Words
- - or
Things I would Say if I Knew I was going to Die Tomorrow
-
-
- Yes, there would be things I would say
- if I knew that I would die tomorrow
-
- Words that I would not normally say
- not for lack of intent, or desire
- but just because I believe
- I still have time to say them
-
- And I would think mightily of the
right words to say
- choosing them carefully and correctly
- with perfect meaning
-
- and I would wish to say them in a way
poetic
- with each word carefully arranged and
balanced
-
- I would talk about the beauty of a
drop of rain
- on a blade of grass
- when caught in the light
- of the early morning sun
- reflecting perfected golden eternity
-
- I would talk about the friendships
- that have provided me with countless
moments
- of laughter, joy, and wisdom
- And shown me kindness, trust, and
honesty
-
- I would gloss over those other
friendships
- that brought me sorrow, sadness and
anger
-
- I would seek out those people
- who over the years have given me
- that which I think is the most
important gift of all,
- and that is the giving of themselves
and their time
-
- And I would convey my appreciation and
gratitude
- to those who acted out of fairness and
compassion
- and to those who have shared with me
their vision of life,
- that life can be good, the importance
of being happy
- and the need to notice all things in
life,
- both great and small
-
- And I would express my heartfelt
thanks
- to the people closest to me,
- family, friends, teachers,
- and even people just met in passing
- who have given freely
- without any desire or need of a thank
you
-
- And then I would express my views
- of life, death, truth, happiness
- and all things in-between
- to any passerby who happened to pass
by
- and explain about matters like love,
- and a hundred million other things
-
- I would be willing to engage
- in conversations with anyone
- in an honest and earnest manner
- And I hope that I would also listen
- because it is never too late to learn
a lesson
-
- And this is where I would attempt to
expound eloquently
- on subjects close to my heart and
soul:
-
- and talk of my lack
of fear of death
- (which is not
entirely true);
-
- of my feeling of
contentment with my life
- (which is true most
of the time);
-
- of my opinion that
there is no purpose to life,
- nor is one
necessary;
-
- of my understanding
that you make life sacred
- by treating it
sacred;
-
- of the importance
of finding the path
- to your inner truth
and purpose;
-
- and to the consternation of some I
would not talk of a god,
- or of heaven,
- or of hell for that
matter either.
-
- I would also point out that we humans
- and our ‘civilization’
- are not only capable of destroying
this Garden of Eden,
- but in fact are destroying it,
- causing unnecessary pain and sorrow to
everyone
-
- I would think about what my dying
words would be.
-
- And I worry that I might say my dying
words too early
- so that they end up not being my dying
words.
-
- I practice what my dying words might
be,
- but I am torn between having the words
- be whimsically amusing but insightful;
- or dramatically melancholy but
powerful.
-
- Do I want to laugh at the face of
death
- and show that I
have conquered
- the mortal fear of
the unknown,
- or display my subtle understanding
- of the inner
essence of humanity?
-
- Of course, do dying words matter?
-
- Yes, I would perhaps sit down
- and write a poetic
and rambling declaration
- and imagine my
audience being far greater
- than just the
friends and family I have amassed.
-
- I would quote authors I had never
read,
- use words that I
looked up the thesaurus
- and generally
attempt to evoke any great idea
- that I have
stumbled across in my life.
-
- I would try to explain that truth is
not a popularity contest,
- and that a person should
stand up for what is right
- because it is the right
thing to do.
-
- That the power of truth will always
become evident,
- even if it does take two
lifetimes.
-
- That it is important in our daily life
- to carry forward
that which is beneficial to us,
- and leave behind that
which is not.
-
- That there is a lesson learned from
every experience,
- and that you should
learn from you mistakes
- as well as your
successes.
-
- That it is okay to practice
spontaneous acts of kindness.
-
- That the sooner we learn to enjoy our
lives,
- the longer we get to
enjoy it.
-
- That children are our most important
asset,
- that our planet is our
most important resource,
- that that each person’s
essence
- is worth more than all
the tea in China.
-
- Yes, there would be a great many
things I would say
- if I knew I would be dying tomorrow,
-
- but I have
plenty of time.
-
-
-
- Attila Gyenis
- February 2001
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