Dancing Amid Grief

‘Dancing Amid Grief’

Mother

Mother,

you scattered flowers over your child’s grave,

as though

you were bringing spring back to that earth.

At the heart of so much sorrow

you stood and danced;

not from joy,

but to defeat death.

We were proud of you,

of a mother who did not hide her tears,

but would not let

grief bend her upright form.

You danced in the fire of your loved one,

and we burned from afar;

but amid the flames of your sorrow

we saw the light of standing firm.

S. Rouzbeh