On Death Experienced: That Deep Sense of Loss can come from Many Sources

ON DEATH EXPERIENCED

                                By Richard Blake

The fist is hard

As it explodes so deep

The emotions so high

Talk seems so cheap

 

Death of self plays a sour note

A loss so deep that everything

Is affected and actions in remote

Continue the self while the soul begins

 

In that very death, flowers do bloom

Priorities shift

As inward

we drift

The self being sifted

 

When death is experienced

The grief cycle will play

Inner strength must end it

With friends we can say

 

I'm ready to go on now

At least for another day

To work with you in the garden

And accept my stumbling along the way.

This was an early poem I wrote dealing with the loss felt in our human condition from many sources: a divorce, a death, a terrible injury with permanent disability, a job loss, retirement for some, etc. 

Yet, the resilience of the human condition normally does express itself after the various stages of grief, and our job as parent, spouse, doctor, or friend, can simply just to be there for support. 

The garden of life has sunshine and rain, flowers and weeds, and even beautiful roses have thorns that can cut and cause infections. Yet, gardens are normally ignored in the winter hard times, and bring us much joy in the spring with new growth.