--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He Is Not Dead I cannot say, and I will…" description: "\"“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..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/488/james-whitcomb-riley-20436_dear_he-is-not-dead-i-cannot-say-and-i-will-n_1049541.jpg" --- # He Is Not Dead I cannot say, and I will not say That he is… ![“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…” quote by James Whitcomb Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/488/james-whitcomb-riley-20436_dear_he-is-not-dead-i-cannot-say-and-i-will-n_1049541.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/488/james-whitcomb-riley-20436_dear_he-is-not-dead-i-cannot-say-and-i-will-n_1049541.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/488/james-whitcomb-riley-20436_dear_he-is-not-dead-i-cannot-say-and-i-will-n_1049541.jpg) > ““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.”” [James Whitcomb Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-whitcomb-riley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/away/) [Away Cheery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/away-cheery-2500812/) [Dear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dear/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Glad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glad/) [Hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands/) [Husband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/husband/) [Just Away](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-away-1059006/) [Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/land/) [Lingers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lingers/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Old time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-time/) [Return](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/return/) [Steps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/steps/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Wandered Unknown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wandered-unknown-2500813/) [Wave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wave/) ## Related quotes > [“I cannot say and I will not say that she is dead,’ she read. ‘She is just away. With a cheery smile and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-jenkins/i-cannot-say-and-i-will-not-say-that-she-is-dead-she-read-she-is-just/) [Victoria Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-jenkins/) > [Think of him still as the same, I say, He is not dead, he is just - away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-whitcomb-riley/think-of-him-still-as-the-same-i-say-he-is-not-dead-he-is-just-away/) [James Whitcomb Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-whitcomb-riley/) > [He is not dead, he is just - away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-whitcomb-riley/he-is-not-dead-he-is-just-away/) [James Whitcomb Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-whitcomb-riley/) > [“If you give up too much of yourself, too fast, then someone can just up and take it away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-chan/if-you-give-up-too-much-of-yourself-too-fast-then-someone-can-just-up/) [Crystal Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-chan/) > [Let's just get away from it all. Just escape to the beach and have a good time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-grabil/let-s-just-get-away-from-it-all-just-escape-to-the-beach-and-have-a/) [Katie Grabil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-grabil/) > [“God gave you everything just to take it away. Just so you knew exactly what you were missing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/god-gave-you-everything-just-to-take-it-away-just-so-you-knew-exactly/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [“I cannot stand this any longer. I don’t know where I’m going. I suspect that I am not going anywhere at all, just away”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-cannot-stand-this-any-longer-i-don-t-know-where-i-m-going-i-suspect/) [veronica roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [When I was younger, if someone had told me I had only two years to live, I'd have gone to an island that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cagney/when-i-was-younger-if-someone-had-told-me-i-had-only-two-years-to/) [James Cagney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cagney/) > [I can't stand another night in a hotel. Just being away. You miss the kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-rushin/i-can-t-stand-another-night-in-a-hotel-just-being-away-you-miss-the/) [Steve Rushin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-rushin/) > [“Evil doesn't just go away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-graham/evil-doesn-t-just-go-away/) [Heather Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-graham/) > [“All I wanted - all I’d ever wanted - was just to get away. To be somewhere small where I could crowd in and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/all-i-wanted-all-i-d-ever-wanted-was-just-to-get-away-to-be-somewhere/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [ “\[...\] She started disappearing as soon as she was born. Just to get away from you.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/she-started-disappearing-as-soon-as-she-was-born-just-to-get-away/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Real feeling don't just go away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/real-feeling-don-t-just-go-away/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [I don't care who you are, just go away, leave me alone. For once in my life, let me be happy..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinier/i-don-t-care-who-you-are-just-go-away-leave-me-alone-for-once-in-my/) [Chinier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinier/) > [“Only mothers can’t say they don’t want their children and just go away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/only-mothers-can-t-say-they-don-t-want-their-children-and-just-go-away/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) ## More by James Whitcomb Riley > [I don't know how to tell it--but ef such a thing could be As the angels wantin' boardin', and they'd call around on me--…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-whitcomb-riley/i-don-t-know-how-to-tell-it-but-ef-such-a-thing-could-be-as-the/) [James Whitcomb Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-whitcomb-riley/) > [“    I woo'd a woman once, But she was sharper than an eastern wind.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-whitcomb-riley/i-woo-d-a-woman-once-but-she-was-sharper-than-an-eastern-wind/) [James Whitcomb Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-whitcomb-riley/) > [“In fact, to speak in earnest, I believe it adds a charm To spice the good a trifle with a little dust of harm”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-whitcomb-riley/in-fact-to-speak-in-earnest-i-believe-it-adds-a-charm-to-spice-the/) [James Whitcomb Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-whitcomb-riley/) > [“And Philiper Flash, With a horrible slash, Whacked his jugular open and went to smash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-whitcomb-riley/and-philiper-flash-with-a-horrible-slash-whacked-his-jugular-open-and/) [James Whitcomb Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-whitcomb-riley/) > [“A Parting Guest What delightful hosts are they— Life and Love! Lingeringly I turn away, This late hour, yet glad enough They have not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-whitcomb-riley/a-parting-guest-what-delightful-hosts-are-they-life-and-love/) [James Whitcomb Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-whitcomb-riley/) > [Continuous, unflagging effort, persistence and determination will win. Let not the man be discouraged who has these.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-whitcomb-riley/continuous-unflagging-effort-persistence-and-determination-will-win/) [James Whitcomb Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-whitcomb-riley/) > [“To all the little children:- The happy ones; and sad ones; the boisterous ones and glad ones; The good ones- Yes, the good ones,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-whitcomb-riley/to-all-the-little-children-the-happy-ones-and-sad-ones-the-boisterous/) [James Whitcomb Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-whitcomb-riley/) > [The ripest peach is highest on the tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-whitcomb-riley/the-ripest-peach-is-highest-on-the-tree/) [James Whitcomb Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-whitcomb-riley/) > [It is no use to grumble and complain; It's just as cheap and easy to rejoice; When God sorts out the weather and sends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-whitcomb-riley/it-is-no-use-to-grumble-and-complain-it-s-just-as-cheap-and-easy-to/) [James Whitcomb Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-whitcomb-riley/) > [“I so ill deserve the place his arms make for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-whitcomb-riley/i-so-ill-deserve-the-place-his-arms-make-for-me/) [James Whitcomb Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-whitcomb-riley/) > [But the air's so appetizin'; and the landscape through the haze Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days Is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-whitcomb-riley/but-the-air-s-so-appetizin-and-the-landscape-through-the-haze-of-a/) [James Whitcomb Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-whitcomb-riley/) > [O'er folded blooms On swirls of musk, The beetle booms adown the glooms And bumps along the dusk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-whitcomb-riley/o-er-folded-blooms-on-swirls-of-musk-the-beetle-booms-adown-the/) [James Whitcomb Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-whitcomb-riley/) > [Who bides his time tastes the sweet Of honey in the saltiest tear; And though he fares with slowest feet Joy runs to meet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-whitcomb-riley/who-bides-his-time-tastes-the-sweet-of-honey-in-the-saltiest-tear-and/) [James Whitcomb Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-whitcomb-riley/) > [Oh, the world's a curious compound, with its honey and its gall, With its cares and bitter crosses, but a good world after all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-whitcomb-riley/oh-the-world-s-a-curious-compound-with-its-honey-and-its-gall-with/) [James Whitcomb Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-whitcomb-riley/) > [O, it sets my heart a clickin' like the tickin' of a clock, when the frost is on the punkin and the fodder's in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-whitcomb-riley/o-it-sets-my-heart-a-clickin-like-the-tickin-of-a-clock-when-the/) [James Whitcomb Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-whitcomb-riley/) [Explore all 31 James Whitcomb Riley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-whitcomb-riley/) ## More Away quotes > [I once told someone I could act. 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And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [Beauty fades away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/beauty-fades-away/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You can't kind of take away, you either do or you don't. If you kind of take away something you're a failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-guare/you-can-t-kind-of-take-away-you-either-do-or-you-don-t-if-you-kind-of/) [John Guare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-guare/) > [We never think that our mothers will die. It was like suddenly an abyss opened at my feet - I was standing on nothing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-okri/we-never-think-that-our-mothers-will-die-it-was-like-suddenly-an/) [Ben Okri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-okri/) > [We all have time away from football to get our head down. 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