I hear grief knocking on my door
trying to get in
I let him knock….and he does so incessantly
I’m not falling for that again
All he bears are misery and extreme pain
The last time I opened that door
-I was thrown off my feet -unto the floorThat strangle-hold- to where my breath caught
-piercing the abscess on my heart- followed by the squeeze
-the clawing at my guts- leaving them to bleed
-that sitting on my chest -refusing to leaveWhen he left- I don’t recall
but he took a part of my soul
and left behind some of his pallI hear grief knocking on my door
trying to get in
Cannot, Will Not- heed his call
(instead)
I pull on my headphones
and put the kettle on
Assuredly not heeding his call
Not……at……. all….
©Vivian Zems
May 29, 2018 at 8:33 am
Doesn’t just knock politely though, sometimes just breaks down the door… but that’s the way it goes, as long as it goes!
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May 29, 2018 at 1:24 pm
Indeed…you’re right. Eventually, the door goes. Thank you for your thoughts, Rajani.
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May 29, 2018 at 9:17 am
I like this one very much
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May 29, 2018 at 1:23 pm
Thank you 🙂
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May 29, 2018 at 9:40 am
This was such a beautiful poem! ❤
You've captured the essence of grief in your words and the reader can't help be affected by it…
Keep writing with your heart, Vivian!
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May 29, 2018 at 12:24 pm
Thanks, Natalie! I appreciate your comments
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May 29, 2018 at 1:40 pm
You’re welcome! ❤
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May 29, 2018 at 10:53 am
I am so sorry for your loss, Vivian. This is a powerful poem.
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May 29, 2018 at 1:16 pm
Thanks Sanaa! Much appreciated 🙂
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May 29, 2018 at 11:29 am
I am sorry for your loss too Vivian – grief and loss are unwanted visitors.
My friend phoned me last Monday to tell she had found her eldest son dead that morning and how surreal it was, and it hasn’t quite hit her yet.
It is sad that we have to go…
Anna
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May 29, 2018 at 1:15 pm
What a shock, Anna (about your friend). Yes, it’s always a shock…and then the unpleasantness begins ….and threatens to stay….
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May 29, 2018 at 3:48 pm
I think grief will always enter… through the headphones, or like gas seeping in through the door… maybe we should invite grief in to have a talk over a cup of tea instead.
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May 29, 2018 at 8:55 pm
Perhaps…..😔
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May 29, 2018 at 5:44 pm
this hits home especially right now… many of my close friends have passed this last while…great poem it expressed the feeling perfectly
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May 29, 2018 at 8:47 pm
Thank you. Grief tends to resonate doesn’t it?
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May 29, 2018 at 7:29 pm
I am so sorry for your loss. Grief doesn’t care what you are doing in a particular moment – you could be walking the dog, shopping for groceries, getting your kids off to school. It comes when it wants to, and it bangs on the door so loudly.
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May 29, 2018 at 8:46 pm
So true, Rommy!
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May 29, 2018 at 8:46 pm
Thank you 🙂
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May 29, 2018 at 9:02 pm
I am so sorry for your loss and your grief Vivian. Grief is a rude SOB and doesn’t care about those of us left behind. This is a powerful poem and speaks to grief perfectly. I say, open the door and punch him out…..
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May 29, 2018 at 10:03 pm
lol! sounds like good advice, Toni!
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May 29, 2018 at 9:17 pm
I can totally relate to this Vivian. I am right there with you keeping that door closed.
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May 30, 2018 at 6:24 am
Grief knocks whenever he wants. I still have moments when he grips me by the arm or taps me on the shoulder and there’s nothing I can do. Your poem speaks to me, Viv, especially the ‘abscess on my heart’ and ‘that sitting on my chest’ – all too familiar. But I think Bjorn has a point about letting grief in for a cuppa – my counsellor was very good at encouraging me to do that and it seems to be helping a bit. Writing about it is part of it.
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May 30, 2018 at 6:59 am
Thank you Kim. I think Björn might just be right…. a bridge that must be crossed- no matter how reluctantly.
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May 30, 2018 at 8:45 pm
Even with the headphones on and the teakettle steaming, grief will wiggle its way in. It is persistent, that way. But in time, we learn to accommodate it somehow.
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June 1, 2018 at 3:15 am
In time……,
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May 31, 2018 at 12:12 am
“Blessed are they who mourne…” and yet how hard it is to do so. My sympathy for your loss, Vivian!
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May 31, 2018 at 2:50 am
Even after many years, grief still comes knocking. 😢
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