What’s the proper etiquette of dealing with grief?
Is it the sealing of lips?
Is it listening to the endless waves of the ocean?
Behind the shadow of eyes there lies a world
unchartered,
where memories of long ago swim
whether in cloud,
in concealment, in light or in the dark
and though I know I mustn’t hold on
I must let go,
fall further into the bottomless abyss where anguish
resides.
The landscape glows a brilliant shade of amber
and rose,
yet I shudder at the mere reminder of past events
don’t maintain eye contact,
don’t absentmindedly listen
lest others make out what’s going on inside your head,
it’s not that I am reluctant to share
it’s not that idea of discussing with a friend hasn’t crossed
my mind,
it’s just that I have closed my eyes for a moment
to cope.
It comes in episodes, this fortitude, this indomitability
this hardihood,
I am led by the understanding of tears as realization forms
like newly growing grass,
is it the building of bridges?
is it the carrying forward of heart?
is it the determination of facing life headlong,
tell me,
what’s the proper etiquette of dealing with grief?
Photo credits: Arrows by Loui Jover
Posted for Poems in April @ Real Toads
26 Responses
Give in to it and let it run its course!
Definitely 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Rajani ❤️
don’t maintain eye contact,
don’t absentmindedly listen
lest others make out what’s going on inside your head
These lines really hit home. Grief is so personal, and everyone grieves differently. I think one fears the loss of control and the debilitation of anguish, at least I do.
Thank you so much, Kerry 🙂 so glad the poem resonated with you ❤️
You explore an interesting topic: what is acceptable grief in public and private. This resonates for anyone who knows they have to suffer a loss in front of other people. Thanks for posting!
Thank you so much, Isadora 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
This is beautiful. There is definitely an etiquette for grief, and there should not be.
Absolutely 🙂 thanks for stopping by, Marian ❤️
(and thank you for the lovely prompt) 🌹
A tough question, Sanaa, to which there is no one answer.
Thank you so much, Kim 🙂 so good to see you ❤️
Good question. We each move through it in our own way. I resonated with the closing of the eyes for a moment in order to cope. Wonderful poem, Sanaa.
Thank you so much, Sherry 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
A question that will be answered (often without words) differently by everyone. Grief is such a wild thing. If follows no rhyme or reason or etiquette, I guess. But we can always name it, can’t we? And we can poem it, too.
Absolutely ❤️ thank you so much, Magaly 😍 so glad the poem resonated with you ❤️
Only the wealthy have etiquette for public vruef.
Thank you so much, Toni 🙂 so good to see you ❤️
This is a beautiful poem. A real question at a time of loss. I love the way you have expressed the heartfelt concerns of that time.
Thank you so much, Ellecee 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
It’s irrelevant to grief, really. But in the eyes of others, the correct etiquette is to shut up about it asap.
An old hand at grief myself, I feel in these lines all your anguish and determination … and a touch of bitterness. You’ve conveyed it exactly.
Thank you so much, Rosemary 😍 so good to see you ❤️
Thank you for tackling this difficult topic.
Thank you so much, Helen 😀 so glad you liked it ❤️
…to cope. Yes, I understand the need for withdrawing for a while…
Thank you so much, Margaret 🙂 so glad the poem resonated with you ❤️
First of all I love the image. It works perfectly with your poem. Grief takes so many different avenues which you have so adeptly addressed in your poem.
Thank you so much, Susie 😍 so glad you liked it ❤️