I attended a writing workshop this weekend. It was led by Carol Henderson, an author who has made a career of writing and helping others learn how to be better writers. She also happens to be a mother who has lost a child.
The workshop was organized by Noah's Children for mothers and grandmothers who have lost a child (or grandchild). We were a small group, bonded by our own horrific events and looking to explore our grief through writing.
While the intention of the workshop was not to be "therapy", the writing was a great way to tap into those complex experiences that surrounded Charlotte's death and the grief process. Of course, there were tears all around but it was a safe space in which to share. It was good to write and have the option to share...or not...in a room that could carry the weight of our grief.
The seeds of some interesting thoughts are germinating in my new writing journal. Many of these kernels of truth may never see the light of day (or my blog) but I did write one piece that I wanted to share.
One of our assignments was to bring something that belonged to our child and, through a series of brainstorming exercises, we created an ode to this object.
This is an Ode to Mick-Mick:
Soft
Small
A true character
While others might come and go,
You were the constant companion
With a frozen smile.
Something to latch on to
Something to love
Something to take away the pain
You were constantly on the go
In and out of the hospital
Stuffed in a bag
Hanging from the bed
Smashed in a corner
Once you were lost
You were quickly replaced
We knew you were that important
When she met your real-life doppelganger,
It was the happiest day ever
I can never see you the same way again
Now you sit on a dusty shelf
An anchor to those times with her
A portkey to the memories of that year
A symbol of everything we did to make her safe and comfortable
Do you miss her as much as we do?
The workshop was organized by Noah's Children for mothers and grandmothers who have lost a child (or grandchild). We were a small group, bonded by our own horrific events and looking to explore our grief through writing.
While the intention of the workshop was not to be "therapy", the writing was a great way to tap into those complex experiences that surrounded Charlotte's death and the grief process. Of course, there were tears all around but it was a safe space in which to share. It was good to write and have the option to share...or not...in a room that could carry the weight of our grief.
The seeds of some interesting thoughts are germinating in my new writing journal. Many of these kernels of truth may never see the light of day (or my blog) but I did write one piece that I wanted to share.
One of our assignments was to bring something that belonged to our child and, through a series of brainstorming exercises, we created an ode to this object.
This is an Ode to Mick-Mick:
Small
A true character
While others might come and go,
You were the constant companion
 |
| Mick-Mick |
Something to latch on to
Something to love
Something to take away the pain
You were constantly on the go
In and out of the hospital
Stuffed in a bag
Hanging from the bed
Smashed in a corner
Once you were lost
You were quickly replaced
We knew you were that important
When she met your real-life doppelganger,
It was the happiest day ever
I can never see you the same way again
Now you sit on a dusty shelf
An anchor to those times with her
A portkey to the memories of that year
A symbol of everything we did to make her safe and comfortable
Do you miss her as much as we do?