Tomorrow is Valentines Day
I feel love escape my heart
Replaced by panics, disillusion
Heart pressed on its chest

Afraid to even breath
Or heave without fear
All this overflowing love
Would have been yours to receive
As yours would have been mine
I wish to have
Spread kisses across your tiny cheeks
Sing my favourite love song to you

Love is not in my air
My air is filled with your absence
Each gulp echoing what is deeply hidden
That I cannot face tomorrow
Without thinking
How I should have loved you

***

This poem conveys the emotional difficulty of approaching a day associated with love after the loss of a child. Instead of anticipating Valentine’s Day with excitement or happiness, there is a sense of dread, anxiety, and sorrow.

The occasion becomes painful because it serves as a reminder of the love that was meant to be shared but can no longer be expressed in the way that was once imagined.

A central theme is the persistence of love despite absence. The poem suggests that the love intended for the child has not disappeared; it remains present and overflowing, but it has nowhere to go.

The desire to hold, kiss, sing to, and nurture the child reveals the enduring nature of parental affection. Even though the child is no longer physically present, the emotional bond remains strong, creating an ache that becomes especially noticeable on a day dedicated to celebrating love.

The poem also illustrates how grief can transform the meaning of special occasions. Valentine’s Day, which is often associated with affection, connection, and joy, becomes overshadowed by loss.

Rather than feeling surrounded by love, there is an awareness of absence. The contrast between what should have been a celebration and what has become a reminder of grief deepens the emotional impact of the day.

There is also a sense of longing for experiences that never had the chance to happen. The imagined moments of tenderness represent hopes and dreams that were interrupted before they could become reality.

This creates a sorrow that is connected not only to the loss itself but also to the future that was anticipated and never realized.

The final lines reveal how grief can become intertwined with love. The difficulty of facing the next day stems not from a lack of love, but from the awareness of how much love still exists for someone who is no longer there to receive it.

The poem presents love and loss as inseparable, showing how the depth of grief mirrors the depth of affection that remains.

If this resonated with you, you are not alone. Grief can feel isolating, but your story matters. If you feel comfortable, I invite you to share your journey, whether through a few words, a poem, or a personal experience. Your voice could be the comfort someone else is searching for.  Leave a comment below, or,

You can share your stories through griefpoetry@gmail.com