Things <br />the matters in Helen’s life <br />never went smoothly for her <br />nevertheless she endured them <br />but finally <br />it must all have been <br />too much. <br />She died of a broken heart yet <br />rumors <br />circulated she had taken <br />her own life. <br />Helen’s son died of AIDS in 1984 <br />never reaching <br />his 29th birthday <br />left instructions <br />as to what he wanted <br />after he was dead. <br />It must have helped him <br />die. <br />He asked for <br />an Orthodox Jewish Funeral <br />although he had never practiced <br />Judaism, the faith <br />into which he was born. He also <br />requested <br />a Memorial Service be held <br />100 days following <br />his interment. <br />For the first month after his death <br />David, his lover, and Helen <br />spent <br />many long hours <br />together <br />each needing <br />the other. <br />In the third month <br />David began seeing <br />another man. <br />Helen felt <br />that wasn’t right <br />that he should have been <br />loyal <br />the way she was <br />loyal <br />should have lived out <br />the grief <br />she was living out. <br />At the Memorial Service <br />I handed her a copy of <br />The Inner Chapters <br />by Chuang-Tzu. <br />She gently <br />kissed my cheek <br />and at night <br />she slept <br />never waking again as <br />Helen.<br /><br />Charles Chaim Wax<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/reading-chuang-tzu/
