A Poem a Day: a Series – Day 8

Day 8: “The Compounding Nature of Grief”


Why is it that grief builds

The first time you lose someone you love it’s crushing

Devastating

Earth-shattering


The second time, it’s all of that

Plus unbelievable sadness,

Pain

At two lives lost


When the third time happens, it’s building off of all of it

It’s pain on top of pain on top of pain

And it’s not like you have ignored your grief

You’ve felt it

But somehow there’s always more


The fourth time, it’s guilt

It’s wishing you could have been closer

Feeling for others more than yourself

And feeling for the grief from before


The fifth time, it’s soul-crushing

It’s the deepest pain

It’s almost unbearable

It’s horrific

It’s pain from before,

Pain for others

For your family

Pain for the future

Pain for the pain that brought about this pain


It hurts

A Poem a Day: a Series – Day 6

Day 6: “WWE”


Growing up

I never liked fighting

Or blood


In anything

TV

Movies

Definitely not in real life


It was scary


But now

My partner wanted me to watch wrestling

He said it’s less bloody


I actually find it funny

Sometimes gross


But my favorite part

Is seeing my boyfriend’s reactions

Passion

For wrestling


While it may not be my thing

I like gaining new perspectives

And seeing the childlike excitement on my partner’s face


Tonight, for example,

When John Cena became a heel, working for The Rock

He was shocked, taken aback

And I was just thinking how excited I was for him to be this excited

And how I first new The Rock from The Game Plan

A Poem a Day: a Series – Day 4

You may have noticed I missed a day. Yesterday was busy, and I ended up forgetting. But, that’s the beauty of doing this series—each day is a chance to reset and write. So that’s what I’m doing. Here’s to day 4, a day late.


Day 4 – “Public Transit”


Hustle

Bustle


Not owning a car

Means endless possibilities


It means carpool

Uber, Lyft, Empower


It means bus

Another bus

Metro

Another metro


And waiting,

Lots and lots of waiting


As I write this,

I’m waiting for my train


There’s beauty in transit

Even in the waiting


But sometimes,

Sometimes,

All I want is a free ride home

A Poem a Day: a Series – Day 3

Day 3: “Happy Hour”


Socializing

Can be fun

Can be awkward

Can be funny

Can be so awkward you don’t know what to do with yourself


What do you do

When

the convo takes a turn


do you physically turn away

and walk out

and say goodbye, that’s enough


Or do you smile, laugh

change the subject

and make a mental note to dissect the moment with your partner later


I often opt for the latter

and take another sip of my drink

A Poem a Day: a Series – Day 2

Day 2: “Medical Rant”


Pain and sadness

Anxious thoughts


What do you do when going to the doctor makes you hurt more?


Every time I go to the doctor

Someone dies

Or I feel violated


My blood pressure is always high

White coat syndrome it’s called


It’s a whole ordeal to go to the doctor’s

Got to make sure I have the right insurance

Got to wait in line

Got to tap my foot

Got to pee in a cup

Got to explain

“My blood pressure is always high at the doctor—just warning you”

With a smile and a laugh

When really I’m dying inside

Okay, breathe


It’s just the doctor


And you can have a sweet treat after for going


Does that make it worth it?


I can see why my grandma never liked going to the doctor


How do I get past it?


How do I lower my blood pressure?


I probably need to go to the doctor to get it checked out