when grief is long

 when grief is long
and begins unannounced
while you thought you still had time

and before your love is really gone
you find that you wish
heart-leaved vines would grow
roots in you to be
your mourning glory

showy and seen

 
when grief spans seasons

your cheeks become

sycamore leaves after rain

fine hairs dampened

overstretched, brittle, and melting

into the damp pillow 

of soft, earthy, 

decay

when grief is endless

as the bright shards of winter

you wish you could break

like frozen things do

or freezing does

break everything else

when grief is long

and planted as an inkling

growing into a fear

blossoming into

some thorned, poisonous flower

you find you tend it

unwilling but helpless

you help it grow

and grow