The Journey in Poems: From Raw Grief to Healing
Section I: Raw Grief
He Left Too Soon
I wrote this in the earliest days after Dylan’s death, when the shock of loss was overwhelming. The words spilled out as I tried to make sense of a world that no longer made sense. This poem is my cry into the abyss of grief—a lament for a life interrupted and a love that endures beyond absence.
If Only a Mother’s Love Could Have Saved You
This poem is the echo of every “what if” and “if only” that haunted me. I poured my guilt and longing into these lines, wishing love could have been enough to save my child.
Bury My Heart
Standing at Dylan’s grave, I felt the finality of loss. This poem is a meditation on the unbearable pain of laying my child to rest, and the longing for what cannot be undone.
Once Upon a Blue-Sky Moon
As I pieced together the story of Dylan’s childhood, I found myself holding tight to the love we shared and the regret for what was hidden in his heart. This poem is a journey through cherished memories and unanswered questions.
Still from Sky I’m Falling
In the darkest nights, I felt suspended in grief, unable to find solid ground. These words came to me when sorrow felt endless and hope seemed far away.
Beat Still My Heart
When grief felt like a shipwreck, tossed in a storm with no shore in sight, I wrote this to give shape to the overwhelming loss and the struggle to keep going.
Falling Stars in a Moonless Sky
Some nights, hope felt impossible, and the ache of missing Dylan was all I could feel. This poem is about longing and emptiness after loss.
Derecho: A Storm Out of Nowhere–Grief Poem: “He Left Too Soon, Lifting Life from June”
The day Dylan died, a Derecho (fierce and unusual storm in the Midwest) marked his funeral. The weather mirrored my heart—turbulent, broken, and forever changed. This is both a story and poem.
Memorial Day: A Mother’s Reflection on Loss, Love, and Unbearable Tragedy
Holidays once meant celebration, now transformed by grief. This poetic narrative reflects on how loss reshapes even the most familiar days.
The Journey in Poems: Middle Grief & Searching
Section II: Middle Grief & Searching
That All of Love Could Sweep Time Back
I yearned to undo what cannot be undone. This poem voices the struggle to accept the permanence of loss, and the wish to turn back time.
Derecho: A Storm Out of Nowhere–“He Left Too Soon”
A literal storm mirrored the chaos inside me, reminding me how quickly life can change. This poem connects the chaos of nature with the chaos of grief.
If Earth Were Sky (And Sky Above)
As grief transformed over time, I learned to carry both ache and love together. This poem is a meditation on how love and pain become inseparable.
Sorrow Buried in Love
Navigating the expectations of others and the complexity of healing, I found ways to keep love alive, even as sorrow remained.
Shaped by Love–And This Grief Come to Stay
I realized grief would always walk beside me. This poem is about accepting that love and grief remain, and learning to live with both.
Haunted by Guilt in Grief: Still from Sky I’m Falling
Nights spent questioning everything led me to wrestle with guilt and regret. This poem is for the journey toward self-forgiveness.
I Couldn’t Save My Son
Confronting the harshest truths of my journey, I grappled with self-blame and the limits of love. This poetic reflection on finding forgiveness after self-blame and guilt marks the beginning of letting go of guilt.
Matins: Reflections on Hope After Loss
In the quiet hours, grief softened and memories brought both tears and warmth. This poetic reflection is a gentle invitation to notice small moments of peace.
Three Years of Grief and Healing After Losing My Son to Suicide
Looking back on my journey, I saw how far I’d come. This poem reflects on how grief evolves, and the small moments of clarity and acceptance that emerge.
A Grandmother’s Love Held Together the Family Table
Family connections were reshaped by grief, but love endured through generations. This poetic narrative honors the ways family holds us together, even in loss. A heartfelt story of a grandmother’s love through both the good memories and the tragic loss of a grandchild.
Grandparents’ Double Grief: Losing a Grandchild to Suicide
Grief ripples through generations. This poetic narrative is for the grandparents who grieve not only for their grandchild, but for their own child’s pain.
The Journey in Poems: Healing & Reflection
Section III: Healing & Reflection
On Baby’s Breath and Angel Wings
As I began to find light again, I wrote this gentle guide toward healing, offering comfort and resources for navigating grief.
My Child on Earth Above in Heaven’s Care
A lullaby of hope, written to honor the enduring bond between parent and child, even across the divide of loss. This poem is a song, a prayer for Dylan, and for myself.
Travel On My Brave Soldier
Moving forward meant carrying Dylan’s memory with me. This poem is a message of resilience, for all who continue on after loss.
Find Hope Here: Poetic Reflections on Grief and Healing
Nature and writing brought small glimmers of hope. These poetic reflections share the verses and images that invited hope and renewal, even in the midst of sorrow.
Carrying Ache and Love: Healing Longterm Grief in Suicide Loss
Learning to live with both ache and love, side by side, I honored the ways Dylan’s memory shapes my life.
Spring Brings Hope
Each spring, I found new reasons to believe in renewal. This poetic reflection celebrates nature’s resilience as a metaphor for healing. Beautiful photographs of my gardens lend healing as well.
The Magnolia Tree: A Symbol of Grief and Resilience
The world keeps turning, even as we grieve. This poetic narrative reflects on finding hope and resilience in nature’s cycles, and learning that beauty can coexist with pain. Through the four seasons of a single Magnolia tree in my garden, hope is found in spring blossoms after the monochromatic winter.
Dylan: Forever Loved and Remembered in Our Hearts
I wrote this to keep Dylan’s memory alive, and to share the joy he brought to my life. It is a tribute to my son, honoring his life and the love that remains.
I Want to Believe: Searching for Hope After Losing My Son to Suicide
Years after loss, I still search for hope. This poetic narrative is for those who keep looking for light, no matter how long it takes.
Twenty Years of Love: Dylan
Remembering the good times and honoring the legacy of love Dylan left behind, I wrote this to celebrate his life, his passions, and the love that endures.