In this world where presumably it's ok to talk about everything (and those subjects which you can't talk about you just put on Jerry Springer) it seems strange that man's oldest fear is still the most taboo subject in our society. You'd think that after the few thousand years we've been around we'd have found some way to talk about death, but personal experience and individual fears for each and every one of us prevents it. Hail the Eleventh Gentleman. ------------------------------------- The first he kills only the wicked The second kills only the good The third he kills people more handsomely Than the fourth kills the misunderstood. The fifth kills the women who've left him, The sixth kills the couldn't-care less, The seventh kills people who fill questionnaires in, The eigth kills the deeply depressed. The ninth kills the twentieth century, And the tenth waits to kill you and me, The eleventh kills only our fear of the tenth..... The best executioner he! From 11 Gentlemen by Momus. ----------------------------------------- IMO nowhere as good in presentation as the last one; this just wouldn't gel the way I wanted to... (",)

And the obligatory Thumbie

What am I looking at here? Flowers? can't really make it out.

It is indeed a taboo subject, and to be honest I dont know why. To that point some may not comment at all, but I will put my unpopular view in. We come we go and do something in-between, that is the way it is. I myself have what is probably to many people a cold and unpopular view of death, in so much I tend not to dwell on it and look forward and not back, some people say that I am cold, but to me I am realistic. Every beginning has an end Great entry btw, powerful and great and apt words.

Mmmmmh! Why is this a taboo?? Strange thing indeed! Pesonnally, I'm not scared of death at all, on a contrary! To me, it's just another fabulous experience and somedays I wish I was there already! Don't get me wrong, I'm NOT suicidal at all! It's just that, in my belief, death is a new beginning, not an end and I'm extremely curious about it! I believe in Tibetan Buddhism and death isn't seen as a bad nor sad event at all! On a contrary, it's freedom! Free from that annoying and painful body! And that's exactly how I feel about it!! I think it's a wonderful subject u chose here Mike the only thing is...ur image is really to dark IMHO and it's hard to see what it is indeed! Maybe a 'lil brightness&contrast enhancement would do the trick? ;)

t' Funny you say that. I too am not afraid of death and look at it as freedom and a chance at a new begining and what a chance to learn! However, now at 43 I am less ready than I was in my 20's or 30's. As i grow older I learn that there is so much I want to do, and so much I could have done. Mortality is more "real" than it has ever seemed before. I still do not fear death, but as I grow older I find that I am less certain of the reality of THIS (the life side) side of it. Just my thoughts at the moment. Magick Michael

fear of death or discussion of what comes next?... so much fantasy weaved of something we know nothing bout, sprinkle some water on those flowers & live for the here & now :] a beam of light would be a nice touch on this i think, fine entry, i can see them well enough

Throw Me in the Compost Heap when My Use By Date arrives ;]

death has never been a taboo subject for me though i know it is for many. i've always wanted to work in hospice after i got my degree. i'm not afraid of dying. i'm afraid of the process prior to dying. i don't want kemal and my family to suffer. i don't want some horrible illness like Ahlzheimer's Disease or other diseases where I'm incapable of taking care of myself. i'm afraid of the horrible, gut-wrenching pain i'll feel when people i love die. i'm afraid of seeing my parents suffer when the other one dies. my mom is a cancer survivor. i'm scared. i find that talking about it helps. Mike, thanks so much for doing this. It's a fabulous entry! I like the flowers surrounded by all that darkness. i think it's appropriate given the topic.

added

Once again, thanks guys. Shee, thanks for noticing that. I very, very rarely use borders on my images, but on this one I did it especially to emphasise the isolation and the 'lonely' feeling. Not just of an unkown journey alone, but also of the indiviualy loneliness we all feel when someone passes on. Maybe sometime I'll have the courage to post my true feelings on death and the reasons behind them. For now, I can just say I completely beleive in an after life and rather than death being a frightening lonely thing I would see it as a peaceful and fulfilling transition. (",)

Mike, you certianly did emphasize the isolation and lonely feeling with this image. no way would i brighten it up, but that's just me. that darkness really does make the mood of this IMO. i hope you will tackle this subject Mike. Start making pictures that reflect your feelings on death and talk about it. it would be good for you. i want to do the same. I'm gonna work on that. it's an important subject to deal with head on IMO. sure isn't easy though.

I think that Sheila's own feelings mirror my own..... the fear I have of death isn't what happens once we pass, it's the process that happens before..... Sounds horrible but I think doctor assisted suicide really should be an option for people suffering horrible/painful deaths..... I know many people think Dr. Kavorkian was a murderer but I don't.....

dying flowers have are real and have beauty too...good with the black background and border i think...