Vigil: The Poetry of Presence

The poems are beautiful and very, very poignant. They convey first and foremost what "vigil" is all about. I had no idea there existed such an offering. I guess from a narrow perspective I thought about dying of an illness (if I thought about it at all) as a family affair. I thought of strangers present (if I thought about that at all) as sad, depressing, an intrusion. I am a very private person - I love solitude but reading Ms. MacPherson's poetry - well, realizing that it would not be just me who is dying but a part of the stranger who chose to be with me ........... If I were alone I would die a more peaceful death knowing that perhaps I will be remembered by the final person to be with me in a compassionate light. I suppose I might also be happy that I had an opportunity to be remembered with no history, no thorns on my body, no axe to grind. Simply a new, fresh beginning at the very, very end. If family was in the room with me it may be comforting to know there is a caring, experienced, solid yet neutral person in the room to help them through a possibly interminable very painful process. Incredible poetry.And.........as a solitary loving, frequently intolerant person who says whatever........ the thought of knowing that I would be quite capable of asking the person to leave if he/she did not provide me with solace, or worse, annoyed me, makes me feel safe in the concept of a vigil. I hope that makes sense to you.

I have never enjoyed reading poetry, but being a healthcare professional and an acquaintance of the author, I thought I would read a poem or two. Once I started, I couldn't put it down and finished the book in one day. I quickly forgot that I was reading poetry, and it was like I was sitting with the patient and experiencing what the author was feeling.

This collection of delicate and thoughtful poems brings home both how personal and how universal the end of life is for all of us. Compassionately written, it doesn't dwell on loss or pain, as the author has no direct relation to the dying individual, but rather contemplates life, end of life, and an appreciation for all of it. This is truly a gift from the author, drawn from her deep experience in end-of-life care.

“The place of centering and calm”This line from “Still Point”, one of the the poems in Pam Heinrich MacPherson’s book, jumped off the page at me when I first read it. It’s what this collection of writings brings to me today and it is the very thing that Pam brought to me and to my beloved sister, as Jill was facing the end of her time on Earth. Providing hospice care for a loved one who is dying too young is no easy task, and for us it was uncharted territory. Scary and tumultuous. Then Pam came into our lives with her huge presence, and she brought us a feeling of calm, of much-needed normalcy, and a sense that things were ultimately going to be OK. She rocked my world that day and in this book, I feel again the warmth and strength that accompanies Pam like a fuzzy comfortable blanket. We are all afraid of death. It is the unknown. Pam shares with her readers, her special vantage point on the process of dying. May it help us to be just a little less afraid.

As someone who works in the deathcare field, it's prudent we take time to integrate the complexities of this realm--the emotions, the mystery, and the tender grief we witness and carry. This artistic work, Vigil: The Poetry of Presence, provides an invitation to center and reflect. For that, my heart is grateful!

Pam has written a beautifully crafted book on a topic many people find difficult to approach - the end of life. Filled with the compassion of someone who has dedicated so many years of her life to the service of those in the final days. It is written with a clear understanding and a soft touch. Pam deftly captures so many of the feelings and nuances of those experiencing their last passage. The Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Foundation strongly recommends this book to anyone who has any interest in the experiences of death, dying, & loss.

From the beautiful forward to the diverse collection of poetic reflections on the journey of dying, I loved this book. Pam is obviously a skilled, loving, and thoughtful companion to folks on hospice, and understands the beauty, power, and possibility of peace during the transition to death. Having just suffered two major losses, I found her words a comfort, as well as thought provoking about the health care policy changes that could make death less scary and less medical. I loved the simple zentangles between chapters - very soothing. A perfect gift for those caring for aging parents, for nurses, etc.

These poems are moments of Grace.Pamela MacPherson has captured and shared the intimacy of our process of dying.I have given away many copies of this book — some to those involved in hospice work, but mainly to people who, like me, have or are experiencing the death of loved one.Holding the hands of the dying are moments of grace, and her clear voice of presence is both a reminder and an inspiration.