Now that I'm gone... a poem that has helped me.

This poem helped me after my youngest son was killed aged 23. He was a generous soul and gave much love away. It fits him well.

jinx I would not worry about "mourning enough". You are busy with your husband now and giving yourself to him.

cap - I found that losing Gordie made some things much more important and others much less so.

pts - lovely poem. I am sorry your friend lost a great granddaughter. Glad your daughter is doing better.

Aisha - it moves me deeply too.

One of the hard things about loss, and perhaps especially child loss, is the unfinished business of still wanting to buy them gifts for birthdays and holidays, and do things for them. After all, you still love them, even if they are not here.This poem showed me I can continue to do things/ give things in memory of my son - things that honour him.

Emjo- That poem made me cry and I'm hardly ever moved by poetry.

When God needs an angel
He seeks the perfect one
But few of us are perfect
There's much work to be done.
So he found a perfect angel
And he swept her to the sky
He gave her wings and halo rings
And taught her how to fly
When Heaven's light shines brightly
She will part the clouds above
And when you see the sunbeam
She is sending you her love.

(I wrote this for a friend who lost her great-granddaughter at age 2)

traveling beside my mother during the end of her life taught me to listen carefully to vulnerable people, kids or elders. their concerns are real but you have to pay attention to get it.

Very good. I sometimes feel guilty that I don't mourn "enough" for my mother. According to this poem, every time I act with kindness or compassion, I'm giving her away and honoring her.