"In the cemetery
a mile away
from where we used to live
my aunts and mother,
my father and uncles lie
in two long rows,
almost the way
they used to sit around
the long planked table
at family dinners..."

Unveiling by Linda Pastan

The title "Unveiling" initially drew my thoughts to a wedding, particularly the unveiling of the bride just before she shares a heart warming, exciting first kiss as the wife of the man she loves. That moment signifies the bond of love that two people share in their lifelong journey together. This journey of life reminds me of a curvy road leading to the top of a mountain. It has its ups and downs, its twists and turns, but it's a beautiful and amazing ride; every moment takes you higher. But eventually, life reaches its climax, the highest part of the mountain. You've seen all there is to see and the only way to go from the top is down. Life begins to slowly fade away with old age and death. Time seems to move faster as you look back on cherished memories. Such was the case of the person in this poem, left alone to reflect upon special moments spent with her deceased loved ones. Death is sad from an earthly standpoint- a last gasp of air, the final beat of a heart, the end of new experiences and adrenaline-pumping adventures, the conclusion of living. The grief surrounding death is heightened by being the sole human left in a group of people, forced to encounter this not-so-grand finale by himself. Luckily, as Christians, we can celebrate death as the beginning of a new and perfect life with our Creator. The road to Heaven- now that's the one I'd choose to be on.

- Katy