This grief
has teeth
my son
it bites through
skin and bone
tearing at heart
and mind
(the deeper
the love
the harder
the pain
I find)
this grief
with its pearly whites
gnaws at me
through dull days
and dark nights
trying to drag me
to dark depths
shaking me
like a dog with bone
bringing me
to deep hurts
and aching moan
this grief
holds hard
bites deep
taking me
to dark dawns
and black dogs
of sunset red
and echoing memories
in numb
and hurting head
this grief has teeth
my son
biting through
bone and skin
tearing me within
but memories remain
strong and clear
and bright
which will
sustain me
through many
a deep dark night.