GRIEF Poetry: FIVE STAGES OF GRIEF, by Lexi Lee

i didn’t realize that the five stages of grief
could be felt all at once
yet not at all
for what i feel cannot be described
by any word in the human vocabulary

denial? or more like trapped
in what i could only wish would be a
never ending nightmare
for at least that would mean
that somewhere people are awake
in a world in which you live

anger is not an emotion i can feel
for your compassion envelops
us and moves us beyond

sadness, i do
selfishly i know
for you lived a life to which
you were at peace with leaving
i just wish it were one that i could be a part of
for longer

will i ever accept, i fear i do not know
but today and tomorrow
we celebrate through the woe