Valley of Life | Online Memorial Blog

In 1998, the following poem was confirmed to have been composed by Mary Elizabeth Frye, as this fact was disputed for a number of years.  The poem is unique in that it is written from the perspective of the deceased, not the mourning. It’s easy to see why this particular piece has become a popular reading at funerals — it’s spiritual imagery and commanding but poetic voice help reassure the listener of the deceased’s continuing life, as contradictory as that may sound. In fact, the author does a remarkable job of reminding us our loved ones live on in the still, small moments and the loud, grand moments alike. Personally, I appreciate the way Frye takes her reader on a journey: at first, she begins with a sorrowful subject, no doubt, mourning the loss of a loved one, but over the course of her prose, she successfully leads the reader to a sense of joy. Quite the feat. (more…)