Grief
By Darla Cady

Do not dare

To say…

You know how I feel

Unless you have seen

The sky bleed

The moon cry

The earth scream out in pain

Do not pretend to understand

Unless you have felt

Wolves claw your heart from your chest

Tears of blood burn your eyes

Ribbons of fire tie your hands

To yesterday

Speak not to me of time

Or how much better I will feel

Eventually

What I need right now…

Is to be…

Held

Listened to

Loved beyond words

Just… please…

Don’t…

Try to cheer me up

Darla Cady's poetry has appeared in Thorny Locust, Leading Edge, and Pegasus Review. She lives in Missouri with her husband and children, where she also works as a personal facilitator to an autistic student.