Comments on: A Dead Man In Clerkenwell

By: keith kelly

keith kelly — Mon, 11 Dec 2017 00:29:25 +0000

The Latin is briefer. Sum quod eris. I am what you will be.

By: pauline taylor

pauline taylor — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 21:41:26 +0000

The inscription in Norwich that Gary mentions is slightly different to the one that comes to my mind. This is: ” As you are now, so once was I. As I am now so shall you be. Prepare yourself to follow me.”

By: Helen Breen

Helen Breen — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 12:53:58 +0000

Greetings from Boston,

GA, grave matters today, eh?

Hoping to share your equanimity –

“Let me admit, although some might consider it poor company, I consider death to be my friend – because without mortality our time upon this earth would be worthless. So I do not fear death, but rather I hope I shall have enough life first. My fear is that death might come too soon or unexpectedly in some pernicious form.”

Well said…

By: Lynne Perrella

Lynne Perrella — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 10:43:46 +0000

Dignity and self-reflection have been in short supply here in the US this week — Making me
appreciate this beautiful post even more.
So much to think about.
As always, this daily respite provides insight and optimism.
With gratitude.

By: Gary Arber

Gary Arber — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 09:37:34 +0000

These old relics stay in your mind. There is a man buried in the wall of Norwich Cathedral behind a sketch of a skeleton with the verse :- ” As you are now once was I, as I am now one day you will be”. Years ago as a young man I did not give him much thought, but as an old man I now think, how long?
Gary

By: John Barrett

John Barrett — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 08:46:45 +0000

This is a well written Clerkenwell piece and researched by GA. Yes where go from here this is a big open ended topic. Some say, its like being in an airport departure lounge waiting for your turn to go. In my poem ‘Sky Souls – Now’ I call people spirits that just floated away on a breeze. I say get yourself projects and work until you drop ~ perhaps you will know then. John a bus pass poet

By: Madeleine

Madeleine — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 07:36:57 +0000

Very, very moving. Leaves me feeling I know you. I shall return to this.

By: Yvonne Kolessides

Yvonne Kolessides — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 07:18:24 +0000

Sitting here in Cyprus which has now become home, I thank you as always for bringing back all the wonderful memories of my father who never tired of telling me the stories of his spitalfield childhood..

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 05:51:29 +0000

This is a lovely piece. As I age and move closer to death, I also feel closer to these kinds of observations.

By: Jim McDermott

Jim McDermott — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 23:37:36 +0000

A very poignant post, GA. Personally, I find that I react to these old ‘as-death-is’ effigies on tombs in a similarly manner. To be reminded that all flesh is grass is a curiously comforting foil to the material expectations that we drag (or drag us) through life.