Hour Thirteen – Write a poem about a time when something really bad happened…that later turned out to be a good thing.
The Guilt
I broke two promises that year
Both, unintentional, of course
But the guilt, it overtakes the grief
The guilt becomes the driving force
The first was when I gave my word to him.
‘Take care of her,’ he’d said.
I had promised. Pleased him, eased him
Not long before he was dead.
But I didn’t. I couldn’t. I let her fall ill.
‘Bring me home soon, I hate the hospital crowd.’
I promised her I would. I will.
I did. In a hearse. In a shroud.
Grief got punched about by Guilt
Numbing, stiffening, shocking, guilt.
Selfish, tunnelling, funnelling guilt.
Weeping, creeping, sweeping guilt.
Two years on, and I know better
No, it’s still not easy that they died,
But I’m not the girl who broke the promise
Because I tried, I tried, I tried!
Isn’t it good though, that she didn’t stay
for me to take care of her?
She journeyed to him instead
So, they could take care – of each other.
This is a very moving poem. When we lose someone first we think about is what we could have done differently and then the guilt hits. This poem is so relatable . Great work
“She journeyed to him instead
So, they could take care – of each other”
Thinking of all the things you should have done when you lose someone, especially when the person is supposed to be under you care. It always happens.
The door of grief takes time to close and in that time you can see the upsides of it.
This is emotional and beautiful.