Grief

When grief sits with you, its tropical heat thickening the air,

heavy as water more fit for gills than lungs;

when grief weights you like your own flesh

only more of it, an obesity of grief.

you think, how long can a body withstand this?

Then you hold life like a face

between your palms, a plain face,

no charming smile, no violet eyes,

and you say, yes, I will take you

I will love you again.

Ellen Bass