When Grief Comes Knocking

When my dad died in 2009 I drew comfort from other people’s words and writing. They helped me navigate my way through grief. After my mum’s death earlier this year, my own words have become my therapy. They’re helping me cope with the loss and realisation both of my parents are now gone from this world.

It was Donna Ashworth’s take on grief that inspired me to write this poem. Donna almost gives grief its own persona, encouraging us to face up to it, rather than cowering away in fear, acknowledging that grief is love.

Last time when grief came knocking at my door,

She was uninvited and I really wasn’t sure

If she knew how early she had come.

I was unprepared.

Leaving things undone.

This time when grief dared to show her face

I knew time was running out.

It felt like a race

To say those heartfelt things that needed to be said

But why was it so difficult, to get them out of my head?

The thing about grief we all need to know

Is that once she’s here,

She’ll never go.

Although she’ll knock, she’ll still barge inside,

No matter what you do, you cannot hide.

So treasure those memories to help you navigate through

The ups and downs of grief,

Find the path that’s right for you.

And after a while you may get to see,

That grief isn’t scary. She’s not the enemy.

Grief is simply all of the left-over love

We now desperately want to share, with the heavens above.

My parents, Roy and Ann Moxon. Finally reunited after 17 years.