It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday

I thought we'd get to see forever

But forever's gone away

It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday

--Boyz II Men

We had a candlelight vigil tonight as a way to get together with our community and begin our path to healing from the horrible event at our school one week ago.  A week of questions, anger, fear, exhaustion, and yes, sorry and tearful good-byes, it's been a tough one to say the least.

But one of our recent graduates read this poem tonight, and it spoke to me instantly.

Death is Nothing at All

by Henry Scott Holland

Death is nothing at all,

I have only slipped away

into the next room.

I am I, 

and you are you;

whatever we were to each other, 

that, we still are.

Call me by my old familiar name,

speak to me in the easy way

which you always used,

put no difference in your tone,

wear no forced air

of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed

at the little jokes we shared together.

Let my name ever be

the household word that it always was.

Let it be spoken without effect, 

without the trace of a shadow on it.

Life means all

that it ever meant.

It is the same as it ever was.

There is unbroken continuity.

Why should I be out of mind

because I am out of sight?

I am waiting for you,

for an interval, 

somewhere very near,

just around the corner.

All is well.

#RaiderStrong