Death Did Not Take Me

Doug Haberman 1959 (Albuquerque, NM)

March 23 


I ask for no mourning
My spirit survives
I’ll be with you always
So please dry your eyes

Death did not take me
For I live on
Every time voices
Are lifted in song
Every time someone
Rights what is wrong

Death did not take me
For I endure
In those who persist
Though afraid and unsure
In all those who ponder,
Seek wisdom, mature

Death did not take me
For I live still
When someone clears hurdles
By sheer force of will
When a kindhearted smile
Warms winter’s chill

Death did not take me
For I remain
In the souls of brave people
Prevailing through pain
In the dreamers who go forth
Shattering chains

Death did not take me
For I live yet
When a creditor cancels
A hard worker’s debt
When true heroes fight off
A terrible threat

Death did not take me
For my heart beats
In seekers out striving
To make suffering cease
In everyone working
To bring the world peace

I ask for no mourning
My spirit survives
You can best show you miss me
By loving this life

About this poem

I imagine this being read at funerals. Well, at least mine.

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Written on March 25, 2023

Submitted by DougHaberman on March 25, 2023

Modified on April 25, 2023

57 sec read
101

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABxx Cxxdxd Cexexe Cfgfxf Chxhxx Cigixi Cxajaj ABcx
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 963
Words 192
Stanzas 8
Stanza Lengths 4, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 4

Doug Haberman

Retired high school humanities teacher who loves to write song lyrics. Now trying my hand at poetry writing. more…

All Doug Haberman poems | Doug Haberman Books

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    "Death Did Not Take Me" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 6 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/155935/death-did-not-take-me>.

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