I borrowed it from a friend and it is
Meaningful to me.
First, I dug in the dirt until I
Found three stones,
A weighty, craggy rock,
One a bit more rounded, and
Finally, a small pebble.
I scrubbed them clean and
Arranged them on "Jack's shelf" along
With his other mementoes.
The rock with the sharp edges represents
Early hard grief when the jagged pain rips
My soul apart, when God simply carries me
Close to His heart.
As the weeks and months slip by the
Sorrow begins to erode a bit so that the
Intensity of it becomes more bearable, suggested
By the rounder stone in the middle of
The threesome, and I take baby steps as
God holds firmly to my hand.
Finally, after years pass, the sadness is
Diminished, like a smooth pebble I
Carry in my pocket.
Because it's always there, the small
Weight has become a familiar presence,
A part of who I am, and not unwelcome, for
I would never want to forget my beloved.
It's also a constant reminder that God has
Not forgotten me.
But even then, after the long sandpapering
Process, the sharp pain sometimes unexpectedly
Reappears, perhaps when I open a photo album, or
I find a note written to me in his familiar handwriting.
The anguish lingers for a moment, or two, or three, and
Then goes back into hiding, a poignant reminder of what
My grief once was and of how far I've come.