Away Quote by James Whitcomb Riley
““He Is Not Dead I cannot say, and I will not say That he is dead. He is just away. With a cheery smile, and a wave of the hand, He has wandered into an unknown land And left us dreaming how very fair It needs must be, since he lingers there. And you—oh you, who the wildest yearn For an old-time step, and the glad return, Think of him faring on, as dear In the love of There as the love of Here. Think of him still as the same. I say, He is not dead—he is just away.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: “He Is Not Dead” by James Whitcomb Riley, 1900
The poem comforts by suggesting that death is not an end but a transition to an unknown place, keeping the beloved’s spirit alive in memory.
In simple terms: Death is a transition, not an ending.
Key Takeaway
Remember loved ones as present in memory.
Themes
loss
memory
comfort
afterlife
continuity
Mood
somber
reflective
hopeful
Type
poetic
comforting
When to use this quote
- funeral services
- anniversary reflections
- personal mourning
- writing eulogies
Key Concepts
Grief
transcendence
nostalgia
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you honor someone who has passed?
- What does “just away” mean to you?
A Different Perspective
May overlook the reality of loss, offering false reassurance.
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![“I don't like being away from home. That's one reason why I don't work as much as I used to [when I started my career], because so many things are on the road. I just don't want to be away from my husband, my dogs and my home. I don't sing that much any more because that also takes you on the road.” quote by Jane Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/07c/jane-powell-36243_away_i-don-t-like-being-away-from-home-that-s_278.jpg)
