Community Poem VII: What We Lost

What We Lost
by the Community


When you died I lost
purpose, meaning, direction,
the plans for my life.

For a while, I lost the ability to concentrate on anything
except the enormity of what I lost,
which meant I misplaced my keys a lot.

Gone are the moments of perfect happiness.
Gone are the moments of stillness and quiet peace.

I lost my belief that bad things happen to others, not me.
Friends: unknowingly abandon and shame.

I lost my innocence
and my sense
of self
when I lost you.

I lost my body.
Stillness birthed and my body became foreign
the womb of doom
the birth of death
the miracle of life turned horrific
Is regaining respect for this physical form possible?

I've been disabused;
The universe cares nothing
for my life's balance.

:::

about the piece.
This month's community poem is about all our losses. Contributors were asked to respond to the title, "What We Lost." Each person was asked to write about one thing they lost after the death of their child. Style and format was up to the individual's discretion.

about the contributors.
Contributors by their on-line pseudonym or real life name include: Jennifer (Mum to Eva), Eliza, Rachel, Jane, Megan, Erika P., Audrey, AnnaMarie and Angie.