“In grief, my love, look for the daffodils” a poem by Becky Helmsley

In grief my love,

look for the daffodils.

It may not be actual daffodils of course.

It might in fact be the sunrise outside your window as you draw back the curtains one morning.

It might be the decision to draw back the curtains at all, after weeks of being comforted by the dark.

It might be walking past their photo and smiling instead of crying;

or picking up that empty mug on the coffee table that hasn’t been moved since they left.

It might be a message from a friend that you now feel ready to answer; and it might be that meal you cook for yourself after days of surviving on not very much at all.

Because in the winter of grief,

these are all signs of spring; they are the beacons of hope that perhaps there are lighter days to come. Days that are a little less harsh. Less dark. Less bleak.

Winter always comes back of course, and so there will be times when the darkness returns: when you find solace in the closed curtains and in the empty mugs.

But each time,

remember to hold on to hope. To the signs of spring.

Remember to look for the daffodils.

*****

Becky Hemsley 2025

Beautiful artwork by Lily Rose Fine

This is from my second grief and loss collection: https://amzn.to/49PR89W

(affiliate link)