Twisted

I've buried every member of my childhood family
I am the only one left to place flowers on graves
I remember their faces, their voices, their lives
I remember the warmth of their arms around me
and all the old humorous or sad family stories


at first the pain of loss is unbearable all the time
sharp dagger to the heart, cloud over all creation
there is barely a brief moment of sunshine
peeking through the torrents of cold rain
you spend hours at the cemetery, too often


just when you begin to live your life again
and it feels like grief has taken a vacation
you find it was only a weekend getaway
your heart is exploding from bombs of pain
loneliness surrounds you like a dense forest


grief is a winding road, a twisted experience
a torment that eventually invades your soul
less frequently, but the dagger never dulls
we have no choice but to meander through
sharp curves, rocky roads, 'til grief has had its day