Working on ARS MORIENDI

Working on ARS MORIENDI

I've been interested for some time in the concept of the ars moriendi, the art of dying, and I see my death poems, of which I've written a number, as being a small contribution to this art.

Way back when, hundreds of years ago, the ars moriendi used to be something that people would study. We're all going to die, therefore it's reasonable to study up on this dying business. But, for some reason, our culture has fallen out of the business of doing this.

Below are a few lines from a draft of a poem to be called ARS MORIENDI, and the plan I have for developing this poem is something along the lines of "to be ready to die, it helps to have lived."

Anyway, for what it's worth, here are a few lines from the poem in progress.

ARS MORIENDI [initial draft]

Let me tell you of the ars moriendi,
The art of dying.
Books on interior decorating can be of use
To set the scene.
Muzak is possible
But is frowned upon
By the highest echelons of the ruling elite.