if you try to ignore the ache, gloss over, avoid,

shove down,

 

sooner or later it will overwhelm, anxiety

or maybe even worse numb, which also

anesthetizes any sort of joy,

or exhausts, even for years.

 

in nature we remove oxygen for a flame to subside

but trauma and sadness must breathe  

be noticed, losses acknowledged.

 

because when sorrow can speak, even eventually,

the container it lives in grows and makes room

for many other things.

 

and would you really want to snuff it out entire?

because joy is the sister of heartache

and grief intermingles with so many amazing things

once there is enough space.

 

and joy comes in the morning

so, hold on for that first ray of sun.

 

Heather Pound 2023

Photo by Titouan COLOMB on Unsplash