Blessing For Falling Into a New Layer of Grief

 My counselor sent this poem to me. It is from the book 'Cure for Sorrow'

You thought

You had hit

Every layer possible,

that you had found the far limit

of your sorrow,

your grief.

Now the world falls

from beneath your feet

all over again,

as if the wound 

were opening

 for the first time,

only now with

 an ache you recognize

as ancient.

Here is the time

for kindness -

your own, to yourself 

as you fall

and fall

as you land hard in this layer

that lies deeper than you ever imagined

you could go.

Think of it as 

a secret room

this space

that has opened 

before you

that has opened

inside you

though it may look

sharp in every corner

and sinister

no matter where 

you turn.

Think of it as

a hidden chamber

in your heart

where you can stay

as long as you need,

where you will 

find provision

you  never wanted

but on which

your life will now depend.

I want to tell you 

there is treasure

even here

that the sharp lines

that so match your scars

will lead

to solace,

that this space that feels so foreigns

will become for you

a shelter.

So let yourself fall. 

It will not be 

the last time,

but do not let this be

cause for fear.

These are the rooms

around which your

new home will grow

the home of your heart,

the home of your life

that welcomes you

with such completeness.

opening and

opening and

opening itself to you,

no part of you turned away.