“…and what is grief but love persevering?” – Vision, WandaVision
My last lover had the subtle lull of lilacs, the effervescence of heaven and any haven – a whiff of safety, but she thought I smelled of grief. I could tell from the faint sadness in her eyes, the kind decline of her brows, you see, I brought my loss to every date. She thought this was sad and smiled at the floating tragedy she looked upon, but I tell myself it is beautiful.
My love, I’ll carry your presence with me. Your essence will abide even when you’re gone. There’s a place in my chest, a cleft for all the lovers who left and so, your blood will flow in my veins and your aura will envelop me. I’ll carry your lilac in my lungs and let it stain every breath I draw purple. I’ll carry the embroidery of your form on my retina and let it shape my vision.
You cannot grieve what you never loved so I will write love poems about you, to teach myself how to love someone I am slowly forgetting because in writing about you, I practice remembering pieces of myself I no longer have. In truth, I give bits of myself to everyone I love and what I mean by this is that when their love dies, I am a dead thing too because grief poems are just love poems on dark mode.
I become a malnourished flower in a garden I was tasked to tender. Time after time drifting between the realms of withering and growth; cocooned in darkness and then reaching for the light.
What else is grief love but this contrariety of states?
Adiel
April 22, 2022 at 10:03 am
For the first paragraph I imagine a goth who wears too much eye makeup. He’s sniffling softly because of his allergies.
He can’t even look her in the eyes as he hands her a withered rose…..
And for some reason I put The Weekend’s Out of Time as the song for it?
I love how delicate this feels yet there’s so much emotion.
Once again thank you Doctor Wrights ?
Victory Okoyomoh
April 22, 2022 at 11:35 am
I like the picture you paint. It adds depth to the lines I’ve written.
Thank you too ?
Mojisola
April 22, 2022 at 10:30 am
Very beautiful.
Victory Okoyomoh
April 22, 2022 at 11:34 am
Thank you ?
Osamu
September 29, 2022 at 9:51 am
I read this poem every once in a while, I’m still not sure why. Some days I think it’s because of the title (this is my leading hypothesis), but I also find the second paragraph or stanza compelling. Maybe it’s both, who knows?
This is a fine poem Victory.
Victory Okoyomoh
November 10, 2022 at 10:13 pm
Thank you, Osamu. This poem is a favourite of mine too. I’m glad you like it ?