Image: Barbara Ryther
Memento Mori
Memento Mori is latin for “reminder of death.”
As a student in school, that was just a quaint academic exercise:
Dancing skeletons on medieval etchings,
Melting clocks in Dali paintings. Flies on bowls of fruit.
All to show mortality.
But now, I see mementos every day.
The wayward strands of silver hair that show up overnight,
That single bright red leaf when summer’s still in swing.
Or somehow seeing mold on berries just bought yesterday.
We could react with horror at these signs of passing time.
Rush out and buy some hair dye or wool sweaters and warm boots.
Forgetting all the very present joy.
Or…let that silver just remind us of our grandma’s hair.
Pick up that leaf and marvel at the colors God creates.
Keep the box of berries, and just toss that one with fuzz,
Before it has the chance to bring the others down.
Sit for a bowl of summer sweetness while you can.
Then when silver hair takes over and the trees are red and gold,
A different kind of beauty will await.
Melanie Kyer
August 5, 2021