O Radiant Soul Poem by Richard (Narad) Eggenberger

O Radiant Soul

O radiant soul, angelic among the flowers
Whose silent heart was like a flaming rose,
O beauty breaking though the form-bound shell,
O light that burned so brilliantly within -
Motionless like a deer in blinding light
I stand transfixed by sorrow, unable to move
Beyond my grief, your spent body's flight
To the sanctuary of eternal love.

Your spirit's triumph is our earthly loss
Though Heaven adds a richness to its own.
A joy that drew our kindred spirits close
In the loveliness of moments without speech -
These endless recollections of the heart
Like scattered seeds or particles of dust
Blow across the vistas of my soul.

You spoke but little in those failing days
But when you spoke your eyes grew bright with love.
It seemed to me within your shattered frame
You built a place where She alone could dwell
And carry on the great mysterious task
Continuing in a new reality.
Now all the roses from our fragrant years
Return again to blossom in my heart.



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'O Radiant Soul' is a heartfelt poem that expresses the speaker's profound grief and admiration for a departed loved one. The language is poetic and evocative, creating vivid images that capture the beauty and radiance of the person being mourned.

The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the poem, with the speaker describing the departed as an 'angelic' presence among the flowers, with a heart that was like a 'flaming rose.' This imagery creates a sense of warmth, beauty, and vitality that is later contrasted with the speaker's feelings of sorrow and loss.

The poem's central theme is the idea that even in death, the departed person's spirit lives on, continuing the 'great mysterious task' in a new reality. The speaker acknowledges that the departed's triumph is our earthly loss, but also finds comfort in the belief that their spirit lives on in some form.

Throughout the poem, there is a sense of reverence and admiration for the departed. The speaker describes them as a 'beauty breaking though the form-bound shell, ' and a 'light that burned so brilliantly within.' These descriptions highlight the departed's inner radiance and the impact they had on those around them.

Overall, 'O Radiant Soul' is a moving tribute to a departed loved one. The language is poetic and evocative, and the themes of grief, loss, and the enduring nature of the human spirit are handled with sensitivity and grace.