
It holds you in its arms
Cradles you, caresses you.
Mistake it not for warmth,
for Grief is an ocean
Vast. Deep. Relentless.
Somebody, everybody and nobody
All have grief in common,
for grief spares none.
I wear it differently
It looks unrecognisable on you.
Grievance is for the dead,
was a lesson taught in school
oh but there is more to it
grief is for change, loss and being
is a lesson taught by life.
Tides and currents run wild
in its unfathomable waves
it comes to everyone
in its own time
and knocks you off your feet.
There is no running, no escaping.
When it hurts to even breathe
remember that it changes on a dime
one day, impossibly, it won’t hurt this bad
that’s how you survive.
I think I’m past it
alas it strikes again, starts again.
you can not control it,
let it in when it comes, feel it
let go of it, when you can
There are names playing on its lips,
My name. Your name.
Do you hear it?

72 replies on “Do you hear it?”
Speaking as somebody who has gone through some intense grief, this is very powerful, Rishika. Well done!
BTW, did you mean to write “Do you hearT it?”
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Hi Ben, I think we all have our share of grief written in our destinies and there’s no running from that. I’m pleased that you thought so! No, that isn’t what I meant to write. I’ve corrected it, thank you for pointing that out. Have a lovely day. 🌹
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Wow! Powerful!❤
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Hi Nawazish, I’m pleased that you enjoyed this one! Thank you for taking the time to read and for the kind words. Hope you are well and have a beautiful weekend. 🌺
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So much to unpack here. The idea that grief is as old as time, that we all feel the same emotion, that it comes in “waves” and at different times to us all, that we all deal with it in different ways, that it “is a lesson taught by life.” This is a neat poem. You really viewed this from a lot of different angles. I commend you for that!
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Hey Ben, oh yes, once I started thinking about grief a lot of thoughts surfaced. Reading your comment definitely made my day. I truly appreciate your kind words. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. Have a brilliant day. 🌼
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Glad to hear! I’ll be looking forward to your next post!
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Of course, I do hear the names!!!… I highly appreciate the way you’ve written this. ❤❤❤
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Hi Roshni, thank you for taking the time to read and comment. I’m happy that you enjoyed this piece. Have a fantastic day. 🌹
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I am simply bowled over by the intensity of this one. Read it one more time to fully drench in its waves. Outstanding work Rishika ♥️
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Hi Radhika ma’am, I am pleased to hear that. Thank you for taking the time to read and for the kind words. I am simply bowled over by the kindness in your words. Have a happy weekend. 🌺
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Lovely portrayal of grief…. Felt it…stay blessed💐❤️
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Hi Diana, that’s definitely good to hear. Thank you for taking the time to read and for your kind words. Have a blessed day. 🌼
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“I wear it differently
It looks unrecognisable on you.”
“one day, impossibly, it won’t hurt this bad
that’s how you survive.”
Those are my favorite lines. I feel every emotion so vividly – the pain, the nostalgia, the sadness. But this is so beautiful nonetheless, and I feel that the ocean/waves metaphor ties in so perfectly. Amazingly written, Rishika! Wishing you peace and contentment 💙
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Hi Wardah, I always cherish reading your comments. There is no beauty in grief, I think, and yet somehow there’s beauty in the pain it brings. Your kind words made me smile.
Thank you for taking the time to read and leave your thoughts here.
I hope you’re doing well.
Have a great day. 🌹
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So true, Rishika – grief isn’t beautiful, but there’s something beautiful in the pain, of figuring our way through the tangles and back to the light. You’re welcome, and I hope you’re doing well too! ❤
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Rhema-Logos
i Recognize
Your
Soul
Through
Your Words
One Crowning
Achievement
True
Throne
When
Words
Will
Never
Need
To Be
Copy ‘Righted’
SMiLes
Have A
Nice Day😁🎶
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Hi, thank you for taking the time to read and comment. There’s a lot of wisdom in your words. I appreciate you leaving that here. Have a wonderful day. 🌺
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My Pleasure
OnlY iNspired
By What
i See
Only
Reflections
Of Souls
i Hear
PLeaSure
InDeed ALWaYS
Opportunity
To Color
HeART
SPiRiT
Evolving
SoUL MoRE
NoW🌺🎶🙌🙏
Thank
You my FRiEnD
inDeeD At LeasT
A Fred in FRiEnD
Hehe
😁 SMiLinG
For Real Now😊
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You are too young Rishika to have experienced such grief, and such deep words from one so young. Beautiful!
Pain is a given in this world of duality. Suffering is our own creation – it comes from the thoughts we bring to our pain.
Stay safe. Stay loved 😊🤗
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Hi Ashok Uncle, we all have our share of grief written in our destinies. When it comes is only a matter of chance. I love that thought. Very true. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. Hope you have a wonderful day. 🌼
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There is so little things we know about life Rishika!
Let us wait and see which college is written in your destiny 😅
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Awesome
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Hi Simran, thank you for taking the time to read and comment. Glad you enjoyed it. Have a lovely day. 🌹
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Hey Rishika,
The pleasure is all mine.
Thank you so much.
Have a great evening.
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Rishika, this one is far beyond words. Right from the start this hits all the right notes. Grief indeed is a powerful emotion that may completely destroy a being. We fight with grief in so many ways sometimes hidden from the entire world. This poem really shows how far you have come in your poetry skills and the way you would really go. May you achieve great heights Rishika. I can see your future and it’s bright as the brightest day. 😇
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Hey Harsh, oh that is so so good to hear. I’m happy I could capture the sentiments. Grief is a fundamental emotion that no one can run from. I really appreciate your kind words. Your comment made me smile. I’ll be looking forward to reading your book. Have a beautiful day. 🌹
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The pleasure was all mine Rishika. You too and thank you so much for the support once again. 😇
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So true..
Grievance is for the dead,
was a lesson taught in school
oh but there is more to it
grief is for change, loss and being
is a lesson taught by life.
Well written.
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Hey Reshmi, I’m delighted that you enjoyed this piece. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. I really appreciate it. Have a blessed day. 🌺
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This is very intense Rishika, yet one can relate! So beautifully written. Its my favorite read this week. Awesome is an understatement
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Hi HS, I guess it’s the emotion which made this poem intense. Oh that is such a huge compliment! I am very very pleased to hear that. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. I appreciate your support. Have a great day. 🌼
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My pleasure always 😇
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Amazing.! 😊
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Hi Pavansai, thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment. Have a lovely day. 🌹
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https://wp.me/pbKhni-2a
Hii rishika hope you are doing good and here’s my new story.! Please do read this and ignore mistakes 😅
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On my way to check it out!
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Very very movingly evoked
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Hey, thank you for taking the time to read and of course the ever kind words. I’m happy you thought so. Have a brilliant day. 🌺
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You are most deservedly welcome indeed!
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Very well written !
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Hi Era, I’m delighted you think so. I really appreciate you taking the time to read and comment. Have a blessed day. 🌼
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I can feel the grief gushing in your words. Great composition, Rishika!
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Hey Anisha, oh I’m pleased I could capture the emotion well. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. I really appreciate your support. Have a fantastic day. 🌹
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This is a stunning piece! The opening stanza spoke to me the most because of the smooth way it flows on the lips. 🙂
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Hi Jaya, I love reading your comments always. Thank you for your positive feedbacks. I really appreciate your kind words. Hope you have a beautiful day. 🌺
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Outstanding Rishika! This explores such a deep understanding of grief and its many shades. 💜
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Hi ST, grief itself is so vast and deep. Most of us just scratch its surface in our lifetime. I’m happy that you enjoyed this piece. Really appreciate your kind words! Have a great day. 🌼
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So personal and reflective, beautiful poet Rishika. Grief does come in waves I discovered after losing my dad. I thought I was doing fine, then I had a moment in the Valentine aisle last February. He passed on Valentine the year before. Sometimes the waves are unexpected.💔
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Hi Michele, grief I believe, is something that never truly goes away. It stays inside us, gnawing at us. We all think we’re doing fine until we’re not. They say it gets easier with time, I’m yet to reach that stage. Hopefully, it’ll come to us both, soon. The secret is to keep swimming! Have a blessed day. 🌹
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Risika, this lovely poem, with its ocean wave metaphor, so beautifully expresses how grief feels. ❤ When my husband died, I remember feeling "waves" of conflicting emotions. I sat in the two-hour memorial service of tributes from family and friends and had the realization that I would never again be the same person. A part of me was missing.
As the service came to its close, my father-in-law prayed the traditional Jewish prayer for the dead. I was filled with elation for the considerable accomplishments of my husband's brief life. His life was a triumph! In spite of his quadriplegia, he had accomplished so much for others and had shown so much love. I was filled with a soaring feeling of joy!
There were many "waves" after that, but 18 years later, the pain has greatly receded and left beautiful memories behind. 🙂
Enjoy your weekend, Rishika! ❤
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Hey Cheryl, there’s beauty in pain they say. Maybe that’s what makes the expression of grief a tragic beauty. I felt similar waves of emotion a few years ago. They say time heals, I’m yet to reach that point.
I highly appreciate you sharing your experience here. It takes great strength to even talk about it. I haven’t gathered it yet. There’s so many emotions attached with grief, it gets confusing at times.
I’m so proud of you for making it through the worst of it!
Have a beautiful day. 🌺
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Wow the poem is so deep and profound. Beautifully expressed! Loved it 💖
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Hey Prerna, thank you for taking the time to read and leave your thoughts here. I’m pleased to hear that. Have a happy day. 🌼
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Rishika as always, portrayed very well…😁😁
Grief, as a humankind we all feel the void of something when they left irrespective of people or like that..
It often generates those unmarked feeling and emotions of one which one somehow scared to show, right? Though we all passed through it sooner or later and that’s also sure..
Along with that Grief, memory of the person also relive, so it’s like we sad for the same moment which also creates magic for some time..
Have a great day..😄😄😊
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Hi Divyang, forgive the extremely late reply. True words. I love your reflection on grief and your thoughts about it. Very poignantly expressed. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. I really appreciate your support. Have a happy day. 🌹
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So raw and deeply honest
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Hi Jude, forgive the extremely late reply. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment. I’m grateful for the encouragement and kind words. Hope you have a lovely day. 🌺
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No problem. Hope you have a great one too🧡❤️
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
ADDING TO THE INTENSITY OF LIFE!
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Oh, thank you, kind friend! Thank you for taking the time to read and for the reblog. Hope you are doing well. 🌻
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And you…and you!!!!!
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So good to see you writing again Rishika and for your incredible depth in your poem describing grief and the metaphor of the ocean waves that come and come. If we could truly hold it this way or I should say when we do, it comes and goes and there is not as much power in in.
Hope you are well! ❤️❤️❤️ Cindy
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What a beautiful expression of grief, that I’m so so many people can relate to. Sadly, grief comes to all of us from time to time, but sharing our experience with others helps so much. Thank you for this touching poem!
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Hi Ann, thanks for taking the time to read and comment. Indeed, it’s sad how many people have such deep understanding of grief. And yes, sharing does help. Hope you have a lovely day. ❤️
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Wow u have the talent
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Hi Nida, oh thank you so much. That is so kind of you. I really appreciate you taking the time to read and comment. Hope you have a beautiful day. 🌹
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Very well, done Rishika. Love the way you used the sky as a metaphor & symbolism throughout. 🙂
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Hi Frank, I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed this one. Happy to see you here! Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. Have a lovely day. 🌼
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Beautifully written💕
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Hey! That is so kind of you. I’m always pleased to hear something like that. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment, I’m glad you thought so. Have a great day. 🌺
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Wow, a very mesmerizing poem✨. You are a very talented poet I must say 💙
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