as long as it takes
It’s alright that it hurts.
Let me say that again-
It’s alright that it hurts this much.
We are not lesser for grieving that which should be grieved,
for it taking as long it takes.
—
I’ve been watching ants
moving their babies into my mailbox before a storm.
Every time it rains they do this
faithfully.
They sense what’s coming
do what they can do
without despair,
together.
—
Would you hold my hand,
let me hold yours?
Perhaps we can carry this together.
Find our way to the other side of the storm.
It’s alright that it hurts.
It’s alright that it hurts this much.
4 thoughts on "as long as it takes"
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Beautifully realized. Keen eye for detail and observation with fully wrought imagery. You acknowledge the suffering, rather than deny it, transforming it in the process. Or, at least, there is potential for doing so. “ Perhaps we can carry this together.” Thank you for this impressive poem. With gratitude
I love it when I learn something from a poem, “watching ants
moving their babies into my mailbox before a storm.”
fav lines:
It’s alright that it hurts.
It’s alright that it hurts this much.
I love the repetition in this piece! That image of the ants is so strong. It alludes to collectivity and grief without flinching or rushing.
This is beautiful and soothing, and I agree that the ants are such a moving way to represent both the collective process of grief as well as the steadfast need to just keep moving through it. Thank you for sharing this.