The Stages of Grief
Sometimes things happen beyond our control
and we lose those we love in life.
We are full of anguish yet empty inside
unable to get past the strife.
The grief is over-powering everything around
guilt and blame take root in the heart
It's hard to believe that the world didn't stop
and from others you feel apart.
Denial is the first that enters the soul
'It didn't happen', your heart must say,
'yesterday was just fine, nothing wrong,
how could he be gone today?'
Anger is next and takes denial's place
You shout, 'someone's to blame!
it's somebody's fault, probably mine,
but someone must shoulder the shame.'
'He was too young, he was too kind
it shouldn't have happened to him,
how could he do such a thing to himself?
Did death pick him on a whim?'
Bargaining follows, you must make a deal
surely there's something to trade?
'What wouldn't I give to turn it around,
to not feel so afraid?'
'I'll be kind, I'll pray to God
in going to church I'll never slack,
I'll never say a mad word to him,
but please let him come back.'
Depression is fourth taking it's place
dulling the world to gray
It hard to move on after what's happened
it's hard to greet each new day.
The grief takes hold, not raw anymore
but settled into constant pain
it affects everything you do and think
with no happiness to attain
Acceptance is the last stage of grief,
the understanding coming slow
That maybe the world is still moving on
and you can rejoin the flow.
Sooner or later we all tragically learn
that a part of life is death
and true healing comes the very first time
you take your second breath.
That breath that comes after you've grieved so long
but you finally raise your head
and realize that though you lost a love
you yourself aren't dead.
You must live your life to celebrate
the time together you had
and realize that you can be happy
even while you're sad.
You'll never get over what happened
you'll know it forever-more
you'll cry for him through-out your life
but you'll remember him as before.
You'll remember the times you had with him,
when you played and lauged and fought,
but you'll remember him with happiness
and heal more than you ever thought.
Tammy Boyd