“I wish I could go back in time to my life before The News. Before my eyes would seek the arms on the clock like a tic just to calculate: A few minutes ago, my life was different. An hour ago, I didn’t know. Twenty-four hours ago, I had no idea my life was about to change forever. Friday, one week later, I have a moment of normality when I first wake up. Just a moment. A single moment before remembering. At this time a week ago, I still didn’t know. For the rest of my life, I will never not know.” KnowingTragedyTraumaDiagnosisTraumatic Experiences Book:Survived By: A Memoir in Verse + Other Poems Source: Survived By: A Memoir in Verse + Other Poems
“Two great pains mark my grief trail like cairns: knowing that it was going to happen, and it happening. But unlike cairns, I can never navigate back the way I came.” PainLossGriefDepressionCancerBereavementDiagnosisCairns Book:Survived By: A Memoir in Verse + Other Poems Source: Survived By: A Memoir in Verse + Other Poems
“The drought came with the volcano. Street lamps frowned through ash-made dark. Homes turned into hills with chimneys peeking out the summits. We hummed as we trudged through the wreckage, until our hums turned into songs. We didn’t know what else to do. Tears wouldn’t water the grass. Cries wouldn’t call the birds home.” DeathLossDiagnosisDroughtAshWreckageVolcanoChimney Book:Survived By: A Memoir in Verse + Other Poems Source: Survived By: A Memoir in Verse + Other Poems