If we live and love, we cannot escape the pain of grief. If you are reading this now, I suspect you have felt, and are feeling, grief. Some of you will know that 'grief' has been a feature of my life and I often find that words can really help ease the rawness when the waves roll in. There are a few poems that have touched me greatly over the past 4 years and I thought I'd share a couple with you in this blog.
If you feel sorrowful, may a sentence or two from these poems, tenderly touch you.
“To the living, I am gone,
To the sorrowful, I will never return,
To the angry, I was cheated,
But to the happy, I am at peace,
And to the faithful, I have never left.
I cannot speak, but I can listen.
I cannot be seen, but I can be heard.
So as you stand upon a shore gazing at a beautiful sea,
As you look upon a flower and admire its simplicity,
Remember me.
Remember me in your heart:
Your thoughts, and your memories,
Of the times we loved,
The times we cried,
The times we fought,
The times we laughed.
For if you always think of me, I will never have gone.”
~Margaret Mead
When I come to the end of the road
And the sun has set for me,
I want no tears in a gloom-filled room,
Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little – But not for long
And not with your head bowed low,
Remember the love that we once shared,
Miss me – But let me go.
For this is a journey we all must take,
And each must go alone,
It’s all a part of the Master’s plan
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick of heart
Go to your friends that we know,
And bury your sorrows in doing good works,
Miss me – But let me go.
(This was read at my mother's funeral and the priest looked directly into my eyes - it touched me so deeply, even now, typing this, I feel the tender touch of the words. It's an extract from a poem by Christina Rossetti.
The above is the link to a related online class I did a couple of years ago and I will be doing another online class specifically on GRIEF next year which I'll post about nearer the time.
In the meantime, here is a link to some of the blogs in the GRIEF section of my website.
Explore and I hope you uncover some comfort for you or a loved one that is in grief.
Last word ...
Reverend Richard Coles has shared poignant insights on grief, particularly in his memoir "The Madness of Grief." He describes how grief becomes a constant presence in one's life. Over time, you might get used to looking away from it, but occasionally, when you do look back, it is still there, unchanged and as painful as ever.
Coles emphasizes that grief does not conform to any set pattern and is unique to each individual. He candidly shares his own experiences following the death of his partner, David, noting that processing grief is a relentless process that doesn't really end; it just becomes a part of who you are.
Coles also reflects on the societal discomfort with discussing death openly, suggesting that our avoidance of the topic only intensifies its difficulty when it inevitably touches our lives .....
..... so let's start talking xxx Maddie
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