I embrace (and still embrace) the grief
I do not embrace the pain
when i grieve i need to truly grieve
but not be focused on how much i hurt
that is to have the pain of grieving
--- but not let the pain be how i define me
then there is also permission to embrace the
laughter
when it comes
the memories
for who is remembered
the goodbye
knowing it is not
final
the moment
as a gift of Gd

poem © 1996 Steve Seibel