This month’s poem of the month is not so much aimed at the bereaved, but some advice for anyone who knows someone who is grieving. This poem is often used as an example of what a grieving person is going through when someone dies. They are often left behind feeling isolated and alone, which can be made worse by friends and family avoiding talking about the loved one they lost. If you need any extra help on how to talk to someone who is grieving, please call Angela our Bereavement Nurse who will be able to help you.
A quote that is popular with our bereavement team sums up what this poem is trying to teach, “If you know someone who has lost a very important person in their life and you’re afraid to mention them because you think you may make them sad by reminding them that they died – you’re not reminding them, they don’t forget that they died. What you’re reminding them of is that you remembered that they lived. And that is a great, great gift”.
Don’t be afraid to talk about the elephant in the room, don’t deny the grieving person a chance to remember happy memories. Talk, laugh, cry.