A THING BEGUN

The burden of grief
would be easier 

to bear, I think

if only it were a little more 

exhaustive 

in its slaughter;

if the knife blade 

were longer 

and a little bit sharper,

then the agony would be briefer

and the torture

might be over. 

But alas, 

as it stands, it's just

too incomplete; 

there are lapses 

where we sometimes sing

from hymnals in the evenings, 

or find ourselves undone 

by some small 

accomplishment hard-won, 

or loose track of the strain 

which was placed 

on our shoulders 

while we're marched 

through the detours 

of loveliness and laughter.