This Familiar Grief Poem by Mary Wright

Walking across the grounds
I had an epiphany
I had never wanted easy dreams
I only wanted to be in love
But what I lost
when I loved you
Still causes knots
in my stomach;

The kind that bite at the end
And take skill to untangle.

Here you are now
In this grave of memories,
And on this occasion
I realize
That to love someone,
Should never have
caused so many regrets;
The kind that lingered

As unsolicited guests
Long passed the welcoming


You never understood
That I was forced to grow from you,
And though I feel angst,
It has been years
Since I cried for you.
I recognize this familiar grief,

And I know that this time,
It is harmless to my heart.