Nun legt der Nebel weit und breit
Dem Frohsinn das Gewerbe.
– Das ist gewiß die Jahreszeit,
In der ich einmal sterbe. - Mascha Kalèko

The "Lonely Funeral" program (known in Dutch as De Eenzame Uitvaart) is a social and literary initiative in the Netherlands that ensures people who die without family, friends, or attendees receive a dignified, respectful farewell... It originated in Groningen, Netherlands, in 2002 when city poet Bart FM Droog decided that no citizen should pass away without being acknowledged. Later that year, poet and visual artist Frank Starik (F. Starik) introduced the initiative to Amsterdam, establishing a formal foundation and a collective of rotating poets known as the Poule des Doods ("Pool of Death"). To prepare for a funeral, designated poets collaborate closely with municipal officers who investigate the deceased person's life. The poets gather whatever personal details exist, such as remaining possessions, medical notes, or landlord recollections, to piece together a narrative. Using these sparse fragments, the poet crafts an individualized poem that honors the dignity, individuality, and humanity of the person who passed away. During the service, the poet serves as both eulogist and mourner, reading the personalized piece aloud beside the coffin at the graveside or crematorium. The tradition has since expanded across multiple cities in the Netherlands and Belgium, ensuring that even those who die isolated or unidentified leave the world with a dignified goodbye. When a poet completes their recitation at a Lonely Funeral, the handwritten or printed poem is sealed inside a customized envelope and placed directly on top of the coffin. It is then buried or cremated alongside the deceased, ensuring that the only copy of their personalized eulogy rests with them forever. (A second copy is preserved in the project’s official online archive so their story is never permanently erased from history). #drthehistories

Portals✨ Doctor Strange (Vol. 2) #4, 1974, Illustrated by P. Craig Russell, and written by Steve Englehart.

Born #onthisday in 1854: Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde. Celebrated for his wit, Wilde + the notion of originality are common bedfellows, but the pairing is not without complications. Our essay on the claims of plagiarism that dogged his career publicdomainreview.org/essay… #otd