Anna Hertzberg's Blog – July 2009 Archive (4)

Just four months ago
I told him be my guest
go take your Journey

I would not have known
How to allow him to leave
Had he not coached me

Gabe: I regret that
my children will not know him
I: through you they will

Little Adina
remarkable at his side
From where such big strength?

Choking on her tears:
"d'you think he knew I was there?"
I know you're here now

Avi believed that in order to truly understand a concept (like inevitability of death) you need to practice, spend time pondering the meaning of it, like you do with a mantra. This haiku, again, reminds me to stay alert in preparation for more (inevitable) loss:

There's no bargaining
With our life's impermanence
There is no sale price

Few days ago a letter arrived in the mail, addressed to Avi. I opened it and I realized the person who wrote it did not know that Avi had passed, so I let her know. I feel I should share her beautiful response:



"Thank you so very much for emailing me and letting me know of your beloved's transition. I was quite stunned, and yes, I did cry with sadness, gratitude, peace and joy in my heart. While our paths crossed but for a short time, his presence and what he shared was and is… Continue

I came across a minature (2" x 2") hand made book of haiku made by Avi .



Here is the content:



I want to make sure

that life's end doesn't find me

wishing I had laughed more



This is the lowdown

those things that matter, matter

those things that don't, don't



No matter my age

I will always house a child

who won't understand



It's just this simple

how I see it is how I live

how I live is me



How… Continue