when i die

this one would have been written some time near the end of ninth grade or the beginning of the tenth, when i was really exploring ideas of faith and life after death. it has always been my philosophy from early on that a funeral should be, amidst the obvious sorrow, a celebration of a life well lived and an eternal life just begun. this poem unfortunately shows my early theological mistakes (becoming an angel).

when i die, sing;
for my spirit flies like on eagle's wing
when i die, though you will baptize me with you tears
cry not in sorrow, for i live no more with fears
but cry out for joy, for i am joyous too
so be joyous with me, for i am still with you
and i will watch over you,
like every angel should
and see to it that you are safe
just like on earth i would
after a time we will see each other,
again face to face
than our spirits shall fly together
because of God's mercy and grace

this is a good place to insert a favorite proverb of mine (a native american proverb): "when you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. live your life in such a way that when you die the world cries and you rejoice."