Five Stages of Grief

When someone near and dear to you has died,
And suffered loss has come to lay you low,
At first the fatal fact will be denied,
And you’ll have trouble trying to let go.
You won’t accept it’s happening to you,
And tell yourself the bad news isn’t true.
You’ll listen for the phone and watch the door,
Then wait for them to walk in like before.
And stubbornly will block and not believe
Your missing mate has fled forevermore-
For that's what humans do when left to grieve.

Then you will start to seethe deep down inside,
And raging anger will begin to grow.
You’ll curse the cross of Christ and fiery-eyed
Will lash out at the Lord who hurt you so.
You’ll shake your fist like pissed off people do,
And boil just like some bitter witch's brew.
Some days you’ll feel like waging all out war
Against the hurtful world and deeply sore,
Might even hate your dear who dared to leave,
And left your hurting heart cut to the core-
For that's what humans do when left to grieve.

Then when resentful rage starts to subside,
You will begin with bargaining as though
By begging God each night by your bedside,
You can bring back your love who lies below.
While wishing all your sorrows would be through,
Along with dark remorse you deeply rue,
You’ll promise to be true to words you swore,
And praying to the Lord will ask him for
Some peaceful respite and a sweet reprieve
From pain like Poe felt for his lost Lenore-
For that's what humans do when left to grieve.

Then there will be dark days you’ll want to hide,
When glum depression robs your rosy glow,
And filled with awful thoughts of suicide,
You’ll want to end your weeping world of woe.
Then melancholy clouds of hopeless hue
Will block the sun and blanket you in blue,
And leave you lying flat out on the floor,
Where you won’t feel like living anymore
Without the one you used to closely cleave
Upon pale pillows wet with tears you pour-
For that's what humans do when left to grieve.

Then following the flood your eyes have cried,
There comes a time your mind takes on a slow
Acceptance of the fact your friend or child,
Or husband won’t be back as you well know.
And once your weary eyes start seeing through
The clearing clouds and have a brighter view,
Then lovely life will bid you live once more
In honor of your dear you still adore,
Who speaks to you each time you touch the sleeve
Of closet clothes your lost love warmly wore-
For that's what humans do when left to grieve.

Then once your heart has healed and opens to
The living light and you can breathe anew,
Your past pains will become a precious store
Of gem-like memories of your amour,
Whose everlasting love you still receive
Like scented letters from the other shore-
For that's what humans do when left to grieve