Poem 23: Grief

I wanted to be light hearted and share a laugh or two

With the events that happened this past week it’s the last thing I want to do

Tragedy that affects dear friends of mine has reared its ugly head

We are now left to mourn the loss of their dear child instead

I cannot begin to fathom what they must be going through

I am at a loss on how to proceed or even what to do

I know their families have surrounded them to help along the way

I’ll just stumble through this poem trying to find the right words to say

The loss of a child is something that no parent should have to endure

No matter what anyone says, I don’t think time is the magic cure        

As we age we can confront death and try to take it all in stride

Nothing can prepare you when it’s your own child that has died

This is a hurt that is unique to those who have to go through this hell

We are left to try to console them in hopes that they will be well

With its many twists and turns it can take a terrible toll

This will rock the parents right to their very soul

This has happened to other friends of ours who have lost a daughter or a son

Though these events happened years ago, the grieving is still not done

Some parents choose to blame themselves and question the choices they made along the way

Thinking that if they would have done things different their child would still be here today

Others choose to bury themselves in work in an effort to quell the pain

I hope it does ease their heart and it’s not all done in vain

It hurt my wife and I to see our friends suffer through this ordeal

This would not compare to the hardship that they must feel

The mother greeted each mourner who entered through the door

With all the friends and family there wasn’t room for more

She broke down so many times as she went through all this pain

In time I hope she is able to heal from all this terrible strain

During the service the next day the elder sibling shared stories of the sister who had passed

Friends also shared memories and recanted them to the crowd that had amassed

We said our goodbyes to the family though they invited us to stay

My wife and I thought they should have some time alone and we proceeded on our way

It might be a long while before they can begin to cope

We send them our best wishes and offer them some hope

Give them time to heal and when they feel they’re ready we will find some time to share

Knowing that is the circumstances were reversed , I know that they would be there