There’s No Poetry During Shloshim

Seems there’s no poetry during Shloshim Even though I tried to write it all day Seems there’s no poetry during Shloshim Somehow life kept getting in the way I wanted to capture the rollercoaster That spun me around, up and down So hopeful in the morning on day three Until melancholy took me to town I sought to express my self-assurance After 24 hours without tears I attempted to hold onto the moment However briefly, I really didn’t care I tried writing couplets after my friend called Whose kindness gave me all the feels But when the feels turned into melancholy No clever verses of the heart were revealed I pushed through with my nose to the grindstone My heart fluttered with excitement at lunch I thought to call my dad to share the new project, Oops, he’s dead - another sucker punch At the end of the day in the driveway Realizing the day just wouldn’t improve I sat back, closed my eyes, so exhausted I slept there ‘cause I just couldn’t move No there’s no poetry during Shloshim Just remembering dad, feeling feelings that ensue Saying Kaddish, not shaving, but writing Riding the wave, living on, pushing through   *Shiva refers to the seven days immediately following the funeral when a mourner is surrounded by community **Shloshim refers to the 30 days after the funeral when a mourner slowly expands the place within the community

Explore more poetry about mourning Papa (my dad, Ken Kipnes). Watch my videos about mourning Enjoy more of my spoken word poetry