Strength

This poem was read at my bereavement group this month.  It touched me and I wanted to share it.
I don't know 'where' I am at in my grief, but I can identify with each stage in some way and I can say I have seen myself moving through and between the stages.  I don't know that I know much about anything anymore, but, I do want to believe I am strong, even though I don't feel it.

Strength

In the early days of my grief,

a tear would well up in my eyes,

a lump would form in my throat,

but you would not know-

I would hide it,

And I am strong.

In the middle days of my grief,

I would look ahead and see that wall

that I had attempted to go around

as an ever-present reminder of a wall yet unscaled.

Yet I did not attempt to scale it

for the strong will survive-

And I am strong.

In the later days of my grief,

 I learned to climb over that wall- step by step-

remembering, crying, grieving.

And the tears flowed steadily as

 I painstakingly went over.

The way was long, but I did make it,

For I am strong.

Near the resolution of my grief,

a tear will well up in my eyes,

a lump will form in my throat,

but I will let that tear fall- and you will see it.

Through it you will see that I still hurt and I care,

For I am strong.

By

Terry Jago