We ride grief in waves; we do not conquer it. It is wide and wild and ebbing, coming back to drench you when you think you have wiped your face dry of tears. If you know someone who is riding grief and you ask, “How are you?” They may just be answering for that day.Continue reading “We ride grief; we do not conquer it”
Tag Archives: death
In Memoriam: Amiri Baraka Made My World a Black Poem
I was trying to comprehend exactly why the death of poet Amiri Baraka affected me so deeply. I cried when I heard. I haven’t read his work in years, I didn’t always agree with his politics and polemics, but still…I feel I lost something yesterday afternoon. Amiri Baraka spoke at Florida State when I attended, I thinkContinue reading “In Memoriam: Amiri Baraka Made My World a Black Poem”
Wading Through Grief One Tear at a Time
Last night I saw my grandmother in my dreams (she passed away on October 5, 2013). I had moved to a new home and stood watching a honey-toned, elderly woman rock on a porch swing across the street. She looks like Grandma…wait, no, that’s her sister! And when my dreamself realized that I had aContinue reading “Wading Through Grief One Tear at a Time”
Goodbye Grandma, Gently into that Good Night
My grandma died this morning. She was the best square dancing, salmon croquette making, 7UP cake baking, silver Afroed beauty I ever knew. She lived a life that taught me to create adventure rather than waiting to happen upon it. Lennye was the flyest older woman I ever met, face beat to the gods onContinue reading “Goodbye Grandma, Gently into that Good Night”
Parkinson’s: Stealing from Grandma
I began stealing from my grandma three years ago. When I realized that one day I would not be able to wake up and find her sitting in the kitchen, watching a 13-inch black-and-white television, I needed something concrete. I needed something tangible to slow the slide of time that had pushed, like a looseContinue reading “Parkinson’s: Stealing from Grandma”
dara t. mathis 