Four Weeks/How Did You Die?

Four weeks ago today, the sheriff gave me the official word that the search and rescue team had found Brandon, but he had died instantly from a fall at Bridal Veil Falls the day before (4 weeks ago yesterday - on his birthday).

In the week preceding that, I had been slipping him little encouraging notes in his lunches. One of the lengthier ones was a copy of one of my favorite poems, "How Did You Die?" by Edmund Vance Cook. I had no idea when I gave it to him how timely it would turn out to be. This is that poem:

How Did You Die?

Did you tackle that trouble that came your way With a resolute heart and cheerful? Or hide your face from the light of day With a craven soul and fearful?

Oh, a trouble's a ton, or a trouble's an ounce, Or a trouble is what you make it, And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts, But only how did you take it?

You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what's that? Come up with a smiling face. It's nothing against you to fall down flat, But to lie there -- that's disgrace.

The harder you're thrown, why the higher you bounce;

Be proud of your blackened eye! It isn't the fact that you're licked that counts, It's how did you fight -- and why?

And though you be done to the death, what then? If you battled the best you could, If you played your part in the world of men, Why, the Critic will call it good.

Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce, And whether he's slow or spry, It isn't the fact that you're dead that counts, But only how did you die?