If You're Ever Going To Love Me

I remember reading this poem in an Ann Landers column when I was in my teens. Just as true now as it was then and it is how I try to approach showing others they matter to me. I've found no copyright, so author is still unknown.

If You're Ever Going To Love Me

If you're ever going to love me

love me now, while I can know

All the sweet and tender feeling

which from real affection flow.

Love me now, while I am living;

do not wait till I am gone

And then chisel it in marble--

warm love words on ice-cold stone.

If you've dear, sweet thought of me,

why not whisper them to me?

Don't you know 'twould make me happy

and as glad as glad could be?

If you wait till I am sleeping,

ne'er to waken here again,

There'll be walls of earth between us

and I couldn't hear you then.

If you knew someone was thirsting

for a drop of water sweet

Would you be slow to bring it?

Would you step with laggard feet?

There are tender hearts all round us

who are thirsting for our love;

Why withhold from them what nature

makes them crave all else above?

I won't need your kind caresses

when the grass grows o'er my face;

I won't crave your love or kisses

in my last low resting place.

So, then, if you love me any,

if it's but a little bit,

Let me know it now while living;

I can own and treasure it.

(Author Unknown, though many have claimed authorship)

Seemingly Random Thoughts

Hi friends,

I have been recuperating from 3 days of mourning, memorial services and funerals. It takes a lot out of me and watching families go through the "Mom/Dad wanted me to have this or that" is so painful. I'm always bothered when families act like vultures and essentially reduced their loved ones' life to nothing more than what the person acquired throughout his or her life. Perhaps that's why I've chosen estate and elder law as my legal specialty. I really want to understand these issues so that I can help families avoid this pecking order.

I managed to get through singing at the memorial services relatively well, but the voice broke quite a bit at the end of the songs when I made eye contact with the families. That's OK; I think they'll forgive me.

I first read this poem many years ago in Ann Landers' column and I still hold it close to my heart and follow its fervent wish daily.

"HEARTS LOVE"

Arthur Unknown

If your heart ever has need to show, then show me now, While I can know

All the Sweet and tender feelings from which real affection flow.

Show me now, While I am living; Do not wait...... till I am gone...... And let cold chisels in Marble...... Carve Warm Love words on embroided hollow Stone.

If you have Sweet thoughts about me, Please whisper them to me.......

Don't you know t'would lift our Spirits and make my Heart strong for thee.

Don't wait till I am sleeping...... never to waken here again...... For mounds of earth will be between us and I couldn't hear you then.

If your "Hearts Love" is of any, If it's just a tiny bit. Share it with me now, While Living; So we can own and Cherish it.