to witness your pain
and to take it in
where it stirs my heart
and compassion reigns
connects our humanity
eloquent and deep
we meet in the middle
and clasp our hands
tears fall freely
without feeling vulnerable
knowing we’re loved
with no hesitation
reaching around
our embrace enfolds
and healing begins
from the warmth
of our emotions
there is no weakness sensed
I will hear what you grieve
held in a space of safety
where love always lives
I will be there for you
as you are for me
our pain will diminish
as the two of us reveal
let me shore you up
through life’s sufferings
bring you ease, a smile
and a lightness of being
I wrote this poem minutes after watching the movie “Evelyn” about a family who loses a member to suicide. They don’t speak of it for 14 years until this documentary which begins their healing. https://www.evelynmovie.com/
Joining dVerse Poets tonight with Lill as our host for Open Link Night: https://dversepoets.com/2019/09/19/ever-been-close-to-a-whale/
Bodhirose's Blog 
Renee Espriu
/ September 19, 2019A very touching poem with heart felt emotion and feeling. Nice to see you here again, Gayle. Hope you are well.
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Bodhirose
/ September 20, 2019Hi Renee, thank you for visiting and your kind comment. I’m well and hope you are too and feeling settled in your new home. xo
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kim881
/ September 20, 2019So sad, Gayle.
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Bodhirose
/ September 20, 2019It is sad, Kim. Such a tough place to be. But nice to be held in love when you need to grieve and express your loss.
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lillian
/ September 20, 2019This is a beautiful post….almost an ode to grieving.
These lines were especially beautiful to me:
“I will hear what you grieve
held in a space of safety
where love always lives”
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Bodhirose
/ September 20, 2019Thank you, Lill. All who are grieving need that space of safety to express their feelings without judgment.
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mhmp77
/ September 20, 2019kaykuala
and healing begins
from the warmth
of our emotions
It is most true that emotions are stirred first before any reactions are recognised!
Hank
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Bodhirose
/ September 20, 2019Hi Hank, so true. Many people are ashamed of their emotions and think that they are weak to express them. I don’t believe that! I think it is a strength. So happy to have you visit.
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rivrvlogr
/ September 20, 2019never knowing
loss shared
words of comfort
one to another
and back
embracing emptiness
of questions unanswered
Ken G
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Bodhirose
/ September 20, 2019A lovely comment, Ken. And how true…the survivors often are left with many unanswered questions and blame themselves. So tragic.
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navasolanature
/ September 20, 2019This is a really thoughtful response and you create words that can help heal. Your poem flows with real insight into loss and the need to share.
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Bodhirose
/ September 20, 2019That documentary was so powerful and yet I couldn’t believe that none of the family members had spoken about the suicide. Some hadn’t even spoken his name for years. I’m glad my words had some insight about the need to share your feelings to heal. Thanks so much for your visit.
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navasolanature
/ September 20, 2019The group I used to meet with in London, based in San Francisco helped me learn how to share and feel listened too. Lew and Francine Epstein and their work with ‘ Trusting You are Loved’ The reason I visited the States for his 80th.
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Bodhirose
/ September 21, 2019Being able to share your feelings with acceptance and without judgment is so important. The Epsteins are doing very important work!
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navasolanature
/ September 22, 2019Yes, they have worked with many men and women’s groups in the States and U.K. It helped me through a difficult time.
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Bodhirose
/ September 22, 2019I’m glad that their work helped you, Georgina. xo
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Victoria C. Slotto
/ September 20, 2019A powerful response to the documentary, Gayle. I pray to be there for someone who may need me and for those who are contemplating taking their own lives.
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Bodhirose
/ September 20, 2019Thank you, Victoria. That documentary had a profound affect on me. Watching as these siblings, mother, father and friends come together for the first time and speak of their loss was amazing to witness. Yes, we all like to hope that we can somehow comfort another into changing his thoughts of suicide.
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Truedessa
/ September 21, 2019I think healing begins with conversation. Many times we go through the motions but, no one really says how they feel inside. Afraid, of their own vulnerability in many ways. Everyone trying to be strong when in reality everyone is crumbling inside. I have felt that crumbling inside at funerals of family members. We all walk around numb and then time passes and
we still don’t talk about the loss the grief.
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Bodhirose
/ September 21, 2019I agree, you have to talk about your feelings otherwise they stay bottled up and just keep the pain going that much more. That documentary was such a good example of how opening up and being vulnerable (in safety) can help the healing immensely. Thanks for coming by, Truedessa.
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msjadeli
/ September 21, 2019I felt the sincerity of your words. I can’t imagine how intense the feelings must have been for those who haven’t talked about something for so long that needs to get out.
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Bodhirose
/ September 21, 2019Thank you for your visit and comment, msjadeli. Yes, hard to imagine the pain that they were all feeling. I couldn’t even comprehend how you couldn’t speak of it for so long…especially not with one another!
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msjadeli
/ September 21, 2019You are welcome.
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memadtwo
/ September 22, 2019Suicide is a difficult grief, as there is so much shame and blame involved. Death is difficult enough with out all the extra baggage. (K)
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Bodhirose
/ September 22, 2019You’re so very right K. Thanks for coming by and sharing your thoughts with me.
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Rob Kistner
/ September 23, 2019Hey Gayle — Hi poet!. Wanted to let you know I am “temporarily” sightless in my right eye from a retinal disease. It is a struggle fir me to write, but I will still wrote my pieces, going very slowly. Reading at any length is extremely difficult, and causes painful headache — so wanted to say thanks for contributing to OLN. But I won’t be able to read what you wrote, yet I wanted to visit. I spent a little time writing this best I could with one eye, i copied it, and I am pasting it in here to say hi. Got an operation coming up in about a week when the infection is down. Hopefully things will get back to normal.thanks, Rob
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Bodhirose
/ September 23, 2019I hope your upcoming surgery is completely successful, Rob. My best to you.
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Jamie Dedes
/ September 28, 2019Thank you, Gayle. Posting for you in 100TPC.
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