I stand by your grave, so suddenly your new home,
Your “address” engraved on cold, granite stone,
Your permanent residence is under the ground
In a place that is dark, devoid of all sound.
Abruptly cut off from the music and the light,
You were denied the future that was your birthright,
What you would have accomplished will never be known,
Your potential is buried and will never be sown.
But you will still live on.
You will live through my body, my mind, my heart,
Intertwined with my soul, you will never depart,
You will be part of my moments, my actions, my now,
My comrade, my brother, this I do vow.
My eyes will be your eyes, you will hear through my ears,
Experiencing my joys, as well as my fears.
The sights and the sounds and the feel of the living,
I will absorb for you, taking in and giving.
As I walk on the beach, the sun warming my face,
You will bask in the heat, far from your cold place,
And as a rainbow of flowers greet my eyes in the park,
You will be dazzled by the colors – far from the dark.
And as I sit with our friends at an outdoor café,
Eating and drinking – as we do every day,
You will be part of our gathering, enjoying food and drink,
For my thoughts will connect us, my feelings our link.
When I step from my chuppah, my kallah at my side,
You will always be a part of us, never ever cast aside,
For through me you will live, our spirits as one,
Until the day will come when my own life is done.
And when I sit with my child, the one with your name,
You will be there as we set up our game,
And as we sing at the table, the Shabbat candles aglow,
Through our joined voices your spirit will flow.
And if it is my mazel that I grow old,
You will commiserate with me as I complain of the cold
And as I reminisce, share a laugh or a cry
For as long as I live you will never die.
You will live through my body, my mind, my heart,
For the rest of my life, we will never be apart,
For you will exist within me – in my today, my now
Dear friend, brother, comrade, this I do vow.
