Written and performed by Le’Shae Harriot

Grief is two confusing roads with no signs.
Broken trees in the middle.
Crossfire- I’ve been hit!
I’ve been flailing my arms in the dark trying to find you.
But all I find is the void and no light.
Grief is just summers with just rain. 
No sun. 
No shine.
But I smile anyway, I try at least. 
Yet, inside feels like a cave ravenous with hunger. 
And I’m giving in to the deep dark settlement in my brain. 
Tick tock, tick tock goes the grandfather clock in my mind.
Grief is a voice in the back of your head. 
That says you were not good enough for it to last. 
Grief is violent.
Grief is fear.
Grief is a misunderstanding of everything you thought to be good, to not be true.
And it’s everlasting in your mind like…
Rotation.
Rolodex.
Outdated.
Grief is the discovery of self.
Murder in the mind of the child you thought you would always be.
Until she emerges unshaven legs, woven into a woman.
Ribbons cut.
They become her lungs. 
And she smiles, at least she tries to anyway.
Grief is sitting at the desk wondering if you’ll keep your job afloat.
Flow. 
Flow.
Everflow.
Ebb; flow.
That’s how it goes. 
Deep.
Deep. 
Deep.
Reminisce.
Back.
Back.
Back.
Go.
Go again.
And stop.
Grief is traffic light.
Remember that, traffic light.
Traffic light.
Traffic light.
Stop.
Go, go, go.
Run.
And don’t look back.
Grief is freedom.
Grief is loss.
Grief is?
Grief is.