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“The Work of the Dead”
Thomas Laqueur’s epic historical survey reveals insight into how and why we care for the deadSignificant amounts of research have been invested in understanding the grieving rituals of the animal kingdom, but literature examining the role that the human corpse plays in how culture is created and sustained over time has been relatively sparse. That is, until Thomas W. Laqueur published “The Work of the Dead” this year. Laqueur utilizes…
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“Sometimes It Snows In April”
Long before his death in April, the legend recorded a beautiful ballad about the brevity of lifeOn April 21, 2016, Prince was found dead near his home in Minneapolis. He was just 57 years old. The legendary singer and multi-instrumentalist left behind a massive catalog of songs, but by far one of the most haunting, and timely, is his 1986 track “Sometimes it Snows in April.” The song was part of…
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New Breast Cancer Study Announced
Study to examine whether weight loss prevents breast cancer recurrence in overweight womenThe Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the wearable-tech giant Fitbit are teaming up on a study to learn if weight loss can reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence in women who are overweight. Dubbed the Breast Cancer Weight Loss (BWEL) study, the effort is cosponsored by the National Cancer Institute and the Alliance for…
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Monday Hearts for Madalene
Page Hodel creates the most beautiful hearts in an ongoing celebration of loveHappy Mother’s Day! It’s an honor for SevenPonds to share with our readers the story of the Monday Hearts for Madalene project, a true account of the power of love in the midst of death. The project’s origins take us to 2005: the moment Page Hodel encountered Madalene Rodriguez and fell “instantly, dizzyingly in love with her.” The couple’s…
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“A Dog Has Died”
Pablo Neruda’s factual ode weeps through wide-open eyesPablo Neruda is a great master of understatement, weaving the sparest details around the complexity of loss with a cry that carries its own weight and does not ask to be comforted. The first four lines of his poem “A Dog Has Died” induct us into his trademark factual approach: My dog has died. I buried…
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“Ad Infinitum” — A Photo Series by Kris Vervaeke
Photographs from Hong Kong’s tombstones speak to the fragility of life and the anonymity of deathIn the crowded cemeteries of Hong Kong, row after row of tombstones mark the graves of the city’s dead, from the earliest Chinese immigrants to those who have only recently died. In the Asian tradition, many of these graves are marked by portraits of the person entombed beneath. Battered by the elements and the passage…
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Our Weekly Tip: Writing an Ethical Will or Heart Will
Leaving a written record of your values and beliefsOur Tip of the Week: A testamentary will — the type of will with which most people are familiar — is a legal document clarifying your intentions regarding the distribution of your property and the care of any minor children after your death. An ethical will, on the other hand, is a document addressed to…
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