Do You Know…?

Do you know the signs of grief–
denial
anger and despair
apathy
acceptance–
how they follow
one upon the other
at a gallop
first and then
a lope…

How over time
a weariness sets in
the pain, less fierce
need not be
galloped through
headlong…
and days it takes
at last, again
to feel each stage
in all its richness
all its depth…

Weeks revolve
exploring
sorting
weeping
taking hold again
of faith, of life
but if one’s wise
denying hope…

And do you know
the cycle
never ends?

_{May 2011 CL Redding
revision 2024}