The Morning After – Finding Light in Loss: Grief and Poetry Series

The Morning After

The morning after, and you’re not here. How can I go? How can I steer? It’s not a dream that you’re not here. The heartache is real. The pain you can’t see, The weight of emotions burdens me.

But when I think of mercy and beautiful grace, I hope—with wonder—you’re in a good place. And knowing that you love me too, I’ll go on this day not feeling so blue.

In fact, right now, I’ll change my mind, With appreciation, which feels divine. And then, I elevate to a different height— Love and joy, a wonderful delight.

I thank this day, as I go on, I pray for you, in memories and beyond.

Poem- Patricia Freudenberg 

Reflections on ‘The Morning After’

Grief has a way of weighing us down, keeping us in a low vibrational state where sorrow and heaviness feel endless. The morning after a loss is often the hardest—waking up to an absence that can feel unbearable. This poem captures that raw moment, but it also reminds us of something powerful: the choice to shift our perspective.

When we acknowledge our pain yet embrace appreciation, we naturally begin to elevate our emotions. According to Stanford University, love and gratitude are among the highest vibrational emotions a human can experience. By allowing appreciation to take root in our grief, we create space for healing, inspiration, and motivation to move forward—not forgetting, but honoring.

Our loved ones leave behind legacies, and as we continue on, we too create our own. Choosing love over despair doesn’t erase the pain, but it transforms it into something that allows us to keep living with purpose, joy, and resilience.

Today’s Reflection:

What is one thing about your loved one that you are grateful for? Let that appreciation guide you today, lifting you into a space of healing and light.

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