POETRY FRIDAY IS HERE!
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All Souls’ Day
On November 2nd, many in the Christian tradition will celebrate All Souls’ Day, a day when we remember, celebrate, and for some– still mourn the loved ones we have lost.
When my brother-in-law died –far too young—I learned what so many others who have experienced loss already know: everyone’s grief journey is different. Absorbing the profound absence of someone you love takes time. The path is fraught with emotion. Breathing becomes an act of courage.
I’m not sure if the work of grief is ever truly finished, but I find comfort in John O’Donohue’s words:
…
Gradually, you will learn acquaintance
With the invisible form of your departed;
And when the work of grief is done,
The wound of loss will heal
And you will have learned
To wean your eyes
From that gap in the air
And be able to enter the hearth
In your soul where your loved one
Has awaited your return
All the time.
excerpt from “For Grief” by John O’Donohue
read the full poem here
And to those who read this post, who are walking the difficult path of loss – may this day of remembrance bring comfort and hope that your loved one rests in peace.
Join us for Poetry Friday
Patricia Franz writes picture books and poetry. She believes children, dogs, and sourdough have a lot to teach us about life, joy, and wonder. She has raised two boys, four dogs, and holds a master’s degree in Theology with a focus on children’s spirituality. Patricia, her husband, her Bernese Mountain dog, Bonny, and her sourdough starter split their time between the Arizona desert and the Sierra Nevada mountains. 
Hi Patricia, thanks for your sensitive and caring post, poem, and for hosting the Roundup.
I am touched by this, Patricia. And it was exactly what I needed. The husband of one of my closest friends passed away yesterday, and I am feeling all the grief. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing O’Donohue’s poem; I had just been thinking about two people — one a friend, the other a relative, who died earlier this year, and November is usually sobering anyway because it’s the month I lost two aunts. I don’t think one ever gets over a loss; one learns how to live with it. Thanks for hosting us this week!
A very touching poem, Patricia – and my sympathies for your loss. My dad passed a year ago, and there are still times it doesn’t seem real. Thanks for hosting!
Patricia, what a poem. “that gap in the air” – makes me think of the way you catch your breath when the memory that someone is actually gone hits you again. Hugs to you. Thank you for hosting and for your generous heart.
Thank you for this post, Patricia, and for hosting. My hubby Jeff (a psychiatrist) does a lot of work with end-of-life and grief issues, and he often shares this poem. Hugs to you and your family.
Beautiful! I lost my sister-in-law far too young. Her birthday is Monday and I’ve been thinking of her. xoxo
I am sorry to read about your own loss, Patricia, and I appreciate the brief poem that holds much. This one line touches all of me, “From that gap in the air”, a continuing experience after years. Thanks for your thoughtful post as our host.