No Sooner by Michael Leunig, a mediation on dying and another one of grief

No Sooner          Michael Leunig

No sooner do you arrive than it’s time to leave.

How beautiful it is, how glorious, yet it’s nearly time to go. So you take it in, you take it in.

And you take a few small souvenirs, some leaves: lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus.
A few small pebbles, a few small secrets, a look you received, nine little notes of music,
and then it’s time to go.

You move towards the open door and the silent night beyond.
The few bright stars, a deep breath, and it really is time to go.

No sooner does it all begin to make sense, does it start to come true,
does it all open up, do you begin to see, does it enter into your heart…no sooner do you arrive than it’s time to leave. Yes, it’s the truth.

And then you will have passed through it, and with mysterious consequence it will have passed through you.

“When the heart
Is cut or cracked or broken
Do not clutch it
Let the wound lie open
Let the wind
From the good old sea blow in
To bathe the wound with salt
And let it sting
Let a stray dog lick it
Let a bird lean in the hole and sing
A simple song like a tiny bell
And let it ring
Let it go. Let it out.
Let it all unravel.
Let it free and it can be
A path on which to travel.”
— Michael Leunig, When I Talk to You: A Cartoonist Talks to God