the poem "the dead woman" by pablo neruda is a deeply emotional poem about the loss of a love, and how, despite our desire to emotionally fold up our tent, we must go on living and helping others.

here is a clip from the film truly, madly, deeply of excerpts read by the characters.

https://m.youtube.com/wat...AS8LhgYp2M

the entire poem is very moving. it was written from the pov of man whose female companion died. it was one of the first things i thought of when i heard that prince had died. i wanted to share it with you all, as it has been very helpful to my personal healing, and i do believe prince would want us all to go on and keep living, loving, and fighting to help those in need.

here is the whole text from the website allpoetry.com

The Dead Woman

If suddenly you do not exist,
if suddenly you no longer live,
I shall live on.

I do not dare,
I do not dare to write it,
if you die.

I shall live on.

For where a man has no voice,
there, my voice.

Where blacks are beaten,
I cannot be dead.
When my brothers go to prison
I shall go with them.

When victory,
not my victory,
but the great victory comes,
even though I am mute I must speak;
I shall see it come even
though I am blind.

No, forgive me.
If you no longer live,
if you, beloved, my love,
if you have died,
all the leaves will fall in my breast,
it will rain on my soul night and day,
the snow will burn my heart,
I shall walk with frost and fire and death and snow,
my feet will want to walk to where you are sleeping, but
I shall stay alive,
because above all things
you wanted me indomitable,
and, my love, because you know that I am not only a man
but all mankind.

Thank you.

In return I offer you this - it's not written for Prince but it has helped me in times of grief. I saw them perform it live a few years ago and I bawled my eyes out.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vZ7gl_jbN4

[Edited 5/18/16 19:49pm]

[Edited 5/18/16 19:51pm]

farnorth said:

most welcome.

captiveunicorn said:

wow. thanks for posting this.