EXEUNT - poem by George Murray
George Murray wrote his own eulogy, a poem titled “EXEUNT”. I don’t think he intended it to be his own eulogy, or even part of it, but when he died in 2010, his children all agreed that this poem was the perfect sendoff. Here it is on the original typed page, and below, as it was printed on the prayer card handed out at George Murray’s funeral, along with a late-life photograph of him…
The Episcopal minister who performed the service was startled and moved by the poem. Startled that it was written by the deceased a few years before his death, and contained a blessing. Moved by the lovely words, the reconciliation, readiness, and satisfaction with his life. The minister recited EXEUNT as part of the service, and we all wept.
The word “exeunt” as the poem’s title is exquisite and perfect, with multiple meanings. In the original Latin, exeunt it is the third-person plural, present active indicative of the verb “exire” which means: go, sail, march move, or out, forth, away, or pass (away), expire, perish and/or die. Apropos, clearly! But even better, the modern usage (since Shakespeare) of “exeunt” is: as a stage direction in a printed play, to indicate that group of characters leave the stage. Ha! Not sure if he wanted the plurality (i.e. “exeunt Hamlet and Polonius”) to refer to the multiple characters within himself, or if he was ignoring it, and taking artistic license as he prepared to exit the stage…
Knowing my dad, he had all these definitions and usages in mind as he titled the poem. Perhaps he began with that one-word title, and then wrote the poem around it. We’ll never know, but please enjoy it nonetheless…
…
EXEUNT
And when he died
in his bed,
the bright angel
of his deepest hopes
left him
and wandered about
his rooms
for a last look,
then blessed him
and was no longer
saddened
that he hadn’t
done enough.
in his bed,
the bright angel
of his deepest hopes
left him
and wandered about
his rooms
for a last look,
then blessed him
and was no longer
saddened
that he hadn’t
done enough.
…
Copyright ©George Murray 2005 (approximately)
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Might not "exeunt" suggest the departure of the one who died in bed, the deep, half-fulfilled, hopes, and the angel? A touching rendering of a universal theme of life and living on earth as existence on a stage.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Shakir--Exeunt was written by my father in preparation for his death! Yes, and thanks for your appreciation of his rendering of a universal theme of life on a stage...
ReplyDeleteTo clarify - it appears as if George Murray replied to you, but this is not the case! I am Russ Murray, youngest son of George the Poet, who died in February 2010.
Delete