1
I did not know the work of mourning Is like carrying a bag of cement Up a mountain at night The mountaintop is not in sight Because there is no mountaintop Poor Sisyphus grief I did not know I would struggle Through a ragged underbrush Without an upward path.. Look closely and you will see Almost everyone carrying bags Of cement on their shoulders That’s why it takes courage To get out of bed in the morning And climb into the day.Edward Hirsch
2
Why did the sun rise this morning It's not natural I don't want to see the light It's not time to close the casket Or say Kaddish for my son I've already buried two fathers With a mother to come Isn't that enough Lord who wants us To exalt and santify HimI don't want to wear the mourner's ribbon Or wake up crying every morning For God knows how long I don't want to tuck my son into the ground As if we were putting him to bed For the last time Close the prayer book I will not pretend That God brings peace upon us And upon all IsraelI don't want to hear anyone Scolding me from her wheelchair Because I'm crying too hard I'm not worried about a heart attack Nothingness You've already broken my heart I will not forgive you Sun of emptiness Sky of blank clouds I will not forgive you Indifferent GodUntil you give back my son .Edward Hirsch