I was recently sent this poem by a dear friend. She was waiting for the appropriate time to share it with me, and admitted that she found it via internet research. I am thankful she shared it, and I did shed several tears as I read through the lines. I thought I should share it with others, because we never know how someone is feeling, or what it may truly be like to live with a loss. I think my surviving son, as well as my husband and I, struggle with some of these emotions that the poet shares. Yet, we are creatively working through our grief. I always say that those that grieve must wear disguises or masks, because there are some days we simply cannot speak or move, and yet we do. It is amazing.
“Don’t Tell Me” by Shawty Dew Whap, copyright 2012 www.gspoetry.com
Please don’t tell me you know how I feel, unless you have lost your child too.
Don’t tell me my broken heart will heal, because that is just not true.
Don’t tell me my son is in a better place, I want him here with me.
Don’t tell me someday I’ll hear his voice, see his face, because beyond today I cannot see.
Don’t tell me it is time to move on, because I simply cannot.
Don’t tell me to face the fact he is gone, because denial is something I can’t stop.
Don’t tell me to be thankful for the time I had, because I wanted more.
Don’t tell me when I am back to my old self you will be glad, because I’ll never be as I was before.
What you can tell me is you will be here for me, that you will listen when I talk of my child.
You can share with me my precious memories, you can even cry with me for a while.
And please don’t hesitate to say his name, because it is something I long to hear every day.
Friends please realize that I can never be the same, but if you stand by me, you may like the new person I become someday.
Helping Him Grieve 