Edvard Munch, “Separation”

“You will be strong

And you will be not-strong

You’ll be up and you’ll be down

You’ll forget and you’ll remember.

You will question your reality

And be angry with the answer.

Bargaining is pointless.

People hundreds of miles away

Will promise to do all they can.

That statement is all they can do.

Surprisingly, it helps.

So does tea.

Every cliché you ever heard

Is a hand-hold for you to hold onto

As you scale this vertical cliff.

And when you fall

- And fall you will -

There will be nobody to catch you

Except everyone.”

Excerpts from “The Observer’s Guide to Grief” by Matt Saunders