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| Odilon Redon, Spring, circa 1910 |
Last night,
grief held my body
in deep soreness
underneath my roughened, toughened skin.
I lay awake, fearing to cry out
and uncork the bottle of my sorrows,
fearing the sound would
resemble new violin students
playing wretchedly and mercilessly,
and for too long.
Instead,
I listened for the birds,
like the chatter of children,
their rich, shattering joy
breaking silence with song.
© 2026 Jennifer Wagner
dVerse oln
Oh, I love that second stanza especially! That gave me a chuckle. But I hope the grief has left you and the joy remains 🌟
ReplyDelete"new violin students" ... (I've made that sound before). birdsong, much better!
ReplyDeleteI think I would find more comfort in bird songs - but, I can feel the pain of the violins.
ReplyDelete👏👏👏👏
ReplyDeleteThe second stanza is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThe sorrow of a spring break-up is encapsulated in your poem, Jennifer, especially in the second stanza with the pain of uncorking the bottle of sorrows. Violins and birdsong.
ReplyDeleteI adore your description in the second stanza. The pain is palpable but you bring us hope in the end. Nature always brings hope. A beautiful interpretation of the painting!
ReplyDeleteSuch a descriptive sadness and a turn I didn't expect, wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThe grief we carry marries us deeper to the love we'll never lose.
ReplyDelete