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This week’s Ligo Haibun has two famous quotes as the prompt: Earth laughs in flowers” by Ralph Waldo Emerson and “Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher” by William Wordsworth.
My choice is Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher” by William Wordsworth.
His Words
“Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher.”
Those had been Ray’s last words as he took his final breath. I knew he was quoting Wordsworth but my grief had been too deep to pay much heed. He had been ill for two years; taking care of him had sapped me of any zest for life. With my ill humour I was the darkness in his world. His death left me hollow and adrift, and it was easier to sink into a vortex so black that it ate at my soul.
Ray loved nature. His room had been full of flowers and sunshine. The melody of the birds always put a smile on his face. And he bore his pains with cheerful stoicism. “Cheer up, Maggie. listen, can you hear their song? The darkness of this world cannot match the light in my heart when I hear them sing.”
Now as Ray’s voice whispered to me from the grave, I knew instinctively that the period of mourning was over. With his words, I’ve been delivered from the power of darkness and thrust into a light so powerful and sublime that I could only gasp at the rays as the beauty of nature glowed in my heart.
your final breath illuminates my heart words set me free
Reading Pleasure 
This is powerful Celestine as I know where it comes from. It is extremely moving.
Thank you so much, my friend. 🙂
I liked Wodsworth’s word better
Oh really? Thank you 🙂
Bittersweet and beautiful
Ow, thanks a million, Eva
You are welcome!
This is poignant and breath-taking! I can so relate to it. I’m glad I found your site. I’ll be checking in often to read your beautiful words.
I’m most grateful for your visit, Oldsunbird, and always happy to have you here 🙂
It was both sad and hopeful. Good job, Celestine.
Thanks, dear friend
as always, your writing goes straight to the heart. lovely. ♥
As do your words, Sunshine 🙂
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Beautiful – Peaceful – A great calming feel.
Perfect!
You always have lovely words for me, Rosy
Incredibly good!
Thank you so much, ‘Grandma’
Emotive and yet balanced. Lovely.
🙂
Thank you, Yarnspinner
Touching. very moving, Celestine
Many thanks 🙂
This brought tears to my eyes. You really worked deep in the heart with this one.
Ow, Alice. Thanks dear friend.
You’re welcome.:-)
I love this, so poignant and powerful. I love the juxtaposition between loss and the the wonder of nature…
It’s always a pleasure to have you here, Steve 🙂
Love your haiku 🙂
I’m glad 🙂
I’m touched by this piece Celestine, it reminded me of my friend who died early this year, and I wonder, is he speaking to me through this? He loves flowers, sunshine and life… You’re so good with words my dear friend and I love you so much! One day, I’ll see your pretty face and listen to your poems!! You can’t comprehend what you’ve done…. God bless you!
Love from your friend,
Seyi Sandra David
Sandra, I don’t know what to say. I’m glad I touched your heart with my words is simple enough. But know that your words are a treasure to me. I cherish this friendship, Sandra. Love you lots 🙂
This is so nice and touching.
Thank you, Audrina
The haiku fits so perfectly with the prose – quite amazing -and the storyteller in you shines again. You convey heartfelt emotion so well, You built that one up just right to give your haiku it’s depth. I always like your writing so much. Thanks again!
Managua, as always your compliments touch my heart 🙂 I’m most grateful
There is always more to your haibun prose than what the viewer reads, Celestine. That something extra, that feeling that takes a reader inside their own self for further contemplation. And of course your haiku is the essence. Loved your haibun! 🙂
Oh Penny, thank you so much, as always 🙂
🙂
simply amazing Celestine!
Thank you, Trisha
This reminds me of when my father passed. Not so much on the how he passed, but how my mother reacted to it. Which was not good. It seemed she was in mourning for too long…not wanting to do much. And even when she was able to attempt to look for love, she kept remembering…and so now lives alone. I can only hope that she is happy choosing to be far from her daughters – though perhaps nearer to her memories.
~Jules
My cousin lost her husband years ago when their two kids were very small. Now, the boys are a medical doctor and electrical engineer respectively and my cousin still grieves fro her husband She has never re-married and is about to go on retirement. what she told me was that consciously, she invokes her husband’s spirit any time she was in need and somehow gets the necessary help. She does not need anyone. His love from the grave is sufficient for her.
Sometimes, love can be so powerful that there is no words to describe the intensity and what it can do to us. Even in death, or in spite of it, we love on 🙂
I thought the play ‘Our Town’ had an interesting perspective on death.
http://www.shmoop.com/our-town/act-3-summary.html
From what I remember – in the third act, Emily returns to her chair to enjoy the stars…
I used to think my dead mother would watch over me all my life, she died when I was young…but then I thought perhaps she was like Emily – after not being able to communicate, returned to enjoy ‘heaven’.
I would like to also think that I keep her alive in my writing…
Thanks for the link 🙂
Your writing turns into a full circle here and I adore how you have written your heart out.
You are right my dear. My heart is always in my words.