* * *

Khalil Gibran

Unwrap me from this white linen shroud and clothe me 

With leaves of jasmine and lilies; 

Take my body from the ivory casket and let it rest 

Upon pillows of orange blossoms. 

Lament me not, but sing songs of youth and joy; 

Shed not tears upon me, but sing of harvest and the winepress; 

Utter no sigh of agony, but draw upon my face with your 

Finger the symbol of Love and Joy. 

Disturb not the air's tranquility with chanting and requiems, 

But let your hearts sing with me the song of Eternal Life; 

Mourn me not with apparel of black, 

But dress in color and rejoice with me; 

Talk not of my departure with sighs in your hearts; close 

Your eyes and you will see me with you forevermore. 

Place me upon clusters of leaves and 

Carry my upon your friendly shoulders and 

Walk slowly to the deserted forest. 

Take me not to the crowded burying ground lest my slumber 

Be disrupted by the rattling of bones and skulls. 

Carry me to the cypress woods and dig my grave where violets 

And poppies grow not in the other's shadow; 

Let my grave be deep so that the flood will not 

Carry my bones to the open valley; 

Let my grace be wide, so that the twilight shadows 

Will come and sit by me. 

Take from me all earthly raiment and place me deep in my 

Mother Earth; and place me with care upon my mother's breast. 

Cover me with soft earth, and let each handful be mixed 

With seeds of jasmine, lilies and myrtle; and when they 

Grow above me, and thrive on my body's element they will 

Breathe the fragrance of my heart into space; 

And reveal even to the sun the secret of my peace; 

And sail with the breeze and comfort the wayfarer. 

Leave me then, friends - leave me and depart on mute feet, 

As the silence walks in the deserted valley; 

Leave me to God and disperse yourselves slowly, as the almond 

And apple blossoms disperse under the vibration of Nisan's breeze. 

Go back to the joy of your dwellings and you will find there 

That which Death cannot remove from you and me. 

Leave with place, for what you see here is far away in meaning 

From the earthly world. Leave me.