Words to a Grieving Heart

Today is a hard day, 
a day when dreams for a better world died.
The weight of grief lays heavy on my chest,
as real as the death of a loved one.

And just as with the death of a loved one,
the well-meant words of solace and advice
are acknowledged, but not truly taken in
until we have time to grieve the loss
of something so precious and so dear.

When the funeral is done, 
we go home, change our clothes,
and head back to work,
because life goes on,
with or without us.

A dream may have died,
but not hope.
It may only be a tiny flickering spark,
but we can fan the flame—
and we must,
for if hope dies,
then we are truly lost.

~Elise Skidmore ©2024