I wrote this on a day when all that has gone before in the past year got just a bit too much to bear. Lost Daddy last January, Mykel died in August; in November, after she fractured two ribs, we received the news that Mama has only a short time before her Parkinson's and essential tremor take her weight down to a fatal limit; she fell again shortly after her birthday and fractured her left hip. I am strong, but there are times when I wish I could just let everyone else handle things.

GRIEF
I am hollow, empty,
Filled with aching pain.
Tears fill my eyes;
I cannot weep.
Screams fill my throat;
They must be swallowed.
I want to crumble;
I must be strong.
Why always me?
My shoulders sag.
Dark comes soon;
let it out.