A Bundle of Laughs, A Bucket of Tears

A bundle of laughs, a bucket of tears, Boy, oh boy, I wish you were here. A moment, a while, so infinite and true, Now you’re gone, and I’m feeling blue.

Why? What happened? Where did you go? I feel you here, but do I really know? Your spirit lingers, your memories last, I need to know that again I may laugh.

Oh wait, I can, with memories at hand— A photo, a quote, it’s like holding your hand. A song, a scent, a whisper so light, Bringing you back in the hush of the night.

The echoes of laughter, the lessons we shared, The warmth of your presence, the ways that you cared. Grief is a river that ebbs and it flows, Yet love is the current that forever bestows.

So I sit in this space, neither lost nor confined, For sorrow and joy dance within the same mind. A bundle of laughs, a bucket of tears, And through it all, love perseveres.

Poem- Patricia Freudenberg 

The Fluidity of Emotion: A Reminder of the Journey

Grief and joy are not opposites but dance partners in the rhythm of life. Just as the tide comes in and out, so do our emotions. Some days we feel a weight so heavy it seems unbearable, while other days, the simple recollection of a shared joke, a familiar melody, or an old photograph can fill our hearts with warmth and appreciation.

Research from Stanford University suggests that appreciation is one of the highest vibrational states we can experience. Gratitude can elevate our emotions, transforming sorrow into moments of reflection, even joy. Though it may not be easy to shift from grief to gratitude, the possibility exists—and we hold the wheel.

This poem serves as a reminder that while emotions may sometimes make us feel stuck, they are never truly stagnant. Just as quickly as sorrow may fill us, joy can return—through memories, through love, and through the connections that remain even when someone is no longer physically present.

Embrace the waves. Hold space for both laughter and tears. And know that through love, the essence of those we cherish will always remain.

© 2025 Patricia Freudenberg, Certified End-of-Life Coach. All Rights Reserved.