S E A S O N S

At the center of fear lies trepidation for our mortality. We avoid thinking of our inevitable transformation from this world, often because when we die we leave behind all that we love. As the western mind stares into the face of death it moves through states of denial, isolation, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. These states were discovered by Dr. Elizabeth Ross Kubbler, a psychiatrist who worked with terminal patients. It is believed that there is a humanistic desire to express these states. Due to our fear of death we have a tendency to isolate ourselves and also avoid others who are in the midst of transformation. Isolation feeds the flame of fear, often causing us to leave this world as we came into it, kicking and screaming. Poetry, music, dance and the visual arts are all ways to communicate the un-defining emotions that overtake us. The poetry selected captures the emotions expressed in the stages of the acceptance of death. The associated paintings further illustrate these emotions.