BE careful, then, and be gentle about death.
For it is hard to die, it is
difficult to go through
the door, even when it
opens.
And the poor dead, when they have left the
walled
and silvery
city of the now hopeless body
where are they to go, Oh where are they to
go?
They linger in the shadow of the earth.
The earth’s long conical shadow
is full of souls
that cannot find the way across the sea of
change.
Be kind, Oh be kind to your dead
and give them a little
encouragement
and
help them to build their little ship of death
For the soul has a long, long
journey after death
to the sweet home of pure oblivion.
Each needs a little ship, a little
ship
and the proper
store of meal for the longest journey.
Oh, from out of your heart
provide for your dead once
more, equip them
like departing mariners, lovingly.