Grief is a House Guest, by Seetha Dodd

Grief is a house guest you can’t turn away.
You struggle at first just to open the door.
Welcome her in. There is no other way.

You don’t think to ask her how long she will stay.
You recognise her, you have met her before:
The adamant house guest you can’t turn away.

She hides in your joy, wallows in your dismay.
A sullen companion you cannot ignore.
You’ve welcomed her in. There is no other way.

She follows you round like a shadow all day.
She weaves herself into your life till she’s sure
that Grief is a house guest you won’t turn away.

Then slowly you find that she helps to allay
your pain, as you build a strange kind of rapport.
You welcome her in, knowing no other way.

Then one day she’s gone but you know that she may
come back to visit. You’ll always have room, for
Grief is a house guest you can’t turn away.
You’ll welcome her in. There is no other way.

*

Seetha Dodd grew up in Malaysia, surrounded by Enid Blyton books. Now she lives in Sydney, Australia with her husband and three children in a chaotic adaptation of Five Go Adventuring Again. Her favourite colour is red, and her favourite word is ricochet. Her micro-fiction and short prose have been published in print and audio anthologies in Australia. She is working on her dream of publishing a children’s book.