A Response to One of My Readers’ Quesiton

So one of my readers (I decided not to call them followers because [1] it make me feel that they are inferior and [2] I feel like I am some kind of a cult leader) asked me the question shown above. Instead of answering him or her in Tumblr, I decided to write a blog about it.

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Death is inevitable. Many brilliant poets and authors have made it as the theme of their greatest works (“Crossing the Bar” by Alfred Lord Tennyson, “Thanatopsis” by William Cullen Bryant, “Prospice” by Robert Browning, “I Have a Rendezvous with Death” by Alan Seeger, and “All but Death Can Be Adjusted” by Emily Dickinson to name a few). It comes to everyone at anytime. Perhaps one reason why I always try (if not actually do) incorporate death in my works is to raise awareness that death can come in any form and any moment. I have written many short stories, and only a few of them contain no death.

I started writing poems about and stories with death after my father died (although my first work with death in it happened before his death; after his death, death became a recurring theme in my works). I do not intend people to be sad with my works, just make them aware that no one escapes death and that death is something we should not fear. Just like Robert Browning’s poem “Prospice” and William Cullen Bryant’s “Thanatopsis,” we all should view death as something to look forward to. No, I am neither sadistic nor pessimistic; I simply want people to not fear death. Yes, I do not fear death, but no, I am not yet prepared to die. This being not afraid of death makes me motivated to work for whatever I want to achieve because I know, death will come sooner or later.

I also use death as one of my themes as it is one of the few themes everyone can relate to. With these stories, I try to encourage people to do what they have to do, say what they have to say, and accomplish what they want before death prevents them—either by claiming them or the ones they love.