I Am Not Here
Don’t stand by my grave and weep,
For I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glint of snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning, hush.
For I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circle flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand by my grave and cry.
I am not there, I did not die.
– Hopi Grief Song/Prayer
I have tried for days to come up with a theme that was photography related but it has been impossible to organize my thoughts. My oldest lost a very close friend this weekend. Again…
He has lost two close friends in the last two years. Both deaths have been sudden, awful senseless and, thus, have been the cause of an overwhelming amount of emotions for my teenager. As a mother, it has been painful to watch him grieve, as well as dealing with my own thoughts and emotions as I empathize with these children’s parents.
I do not know how to console him; he has been through one of life’s hardest moments at such a young age. I, myself, do not know how to stop thinking about these losses. So how can I support him in his grief? I can research online for coping mechanisms to deal with loss but the truth is I cannot take away his pain.
However, I can try to communicate, answer questions. I can comfort and I can love.
I can quietly be there, hold his hand, and, together, try to understand.
Stay safe and hug your loved ones tight,
So sorry, Maite (and to your son). This is so hard. Sending prayers to his friend’s family <3
I know this poem by heart, from years ago, when I was going through the hardest time of my life.
I am sorry your son has to go through such a painful experience, at such a young age. Being quietly there is just about the only thing you can do and it is also the best thing you can do.
I. am so sorry for his and for your loss. Time and love. There is nothing else for grief.
Thinking of you all. xxx