T.S. Eliot' Eyes That Last I Saw In Tears

Eyes That Last I Saw In Tears

Eyes that last I saw in tears
Through division
Here in death's dream kingdom
The golden vision reappears
I see the eyes but not the tears
This is my affliction

This is my affliction
Eyes I shall not see again
Eyes of decision
Eyes I shall not see unless
At the door of death's other kingdom
Where, as in this,
The eyes outlast a little while
A little while outlast the tears
And hold us in derision.

This is one of my most favourite poems from a much admired poet. A very elegant, lyrical, reflective words to express grief of losing a loved one and the ramification of the loss on our identities. Every time I want to pick a fight with my loss, get angry at the injustice of it all, I think of this poem and know that there is more to the helpless and seething anger - deep down there is the knowledge that when someone leaves, something stays with us - making us different from what we otherwise would have been. While that may not be what we wished for or like, who are we to deny who we are as a result?