Grief
plucks his gray suit coat
from hanger | clenches
his fist | thrusts through
sleeve | breast pocket cradles
frayed handkerchief | slate tie
squeezes adam’s apple |
smooths wrinkles along
seam of pant leg | black
scuff mark on shoe
disappears under sliding
thumb | shoves door
open | air too heavy
to lift the birds | smells like rain
12 thoughts on "Grief"
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I love the form of the poem. The title is perfect. I love the line “air too heavily to lift birds.”
Gorgeous & skillful
I too love that heavy air.
Oh, Wendy! This is delightful! Do you know J. Ruth Gendler’s The Book of Qualities? She personifies so many emotions and values. Interesting to read.
Such great personification and form. I enjoy the sounds of the line breaks too
Each description just works. Hauntingly beautiful.
air too heavy / to lift the birds
Great images
As we get older, this particular journey is one we take more often. Too often. Nicely done, Wendy.
the minute details
of the duty of grief
I love the way the title drops me into the poem.
Favorite lines:
plucks his gray suit coat
from hanger
and
air too heavy
to lift the birds
Love those line breaks!!
Well crafted!