It’s sad and difficult to lose people who spent their lives making ours better. But they lived long and full lives filled with grace, joy, love, and achievement. When it became their time to go, they went with loved ones at their sides and left millions of people touched by their art and music that will carry their memory and spirit into history.

Anyone would be so lucky to live their life as well. I’m reminded of this quote from The Dead Poet’s Society:

We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, “O me! O life!.. of the questions of these recurring; of the endless trains of the faithless… of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life?” Answer. That you are here - that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse.

What will your verse be?