As the Altared Spirits show develops, the theme of dead fathers seems to be important. here are the first few lines of a poem by my friend Larraine Herring on that very event:
How to Bury Your Father
First, make sure your father is dead.
It’s important to note that although he may no longer be breathing,
he may still be alive for you.
If he is alive for you, then no amount of digging, or
flower planting
or epitaph writing
will do the trick.
Second, ask yourself if you indeed are ready
for your father to be dead.
You may have noticed that people die
in the most unexpected times --
when you are a child, or a young adult, or a new parent;
in the most unexpected ways –
crossing the street after a puppy, falling asleep with too much gin, or
the simple slice of an attack of heart.
If you are not ready for your father to be dead,
then no amount of praying, or
crying,
or counseling
will do.
more at http://laraineherring.blogspot.com/2008/06/how-to-bury-your-father.html
Provocative! Aren't all deaths at unexpected times, even when expected?
ReplyDeleteI am not ready to bury my father, or any other of my dear friends who have died. I remember telling someone that even though people have been dying for hundreds of thousands of years, when it is someone you love, it feels as though it has happened for the very first time. Not sure you ever get used to it.