Happy Valentines Baby
I wanted to spend the day with you
I feel it is too soon to step outside
That cold hard wind on my face

Stepping on the place you lie for eternity
I trembled wondering
Would I be able to stand still
Or stand at all
When I know you are so near
Yet so far from me
A million feet under
A million miles separate us
It’s still raw
Would I be able to stare at your grave
Without wanting to claw away the sand
With my bare fingers
Until I can reach you
Unimaginable
Yet my mind feels possible
Because you left too soon
Happy Valentines Day my baby
This was your month
Your month to be born
Your month of love
A month filled with Expectations
Expectations of your presence
My heart yearns for that love
Love of a mother to her son
Love of a son to his mother
I know
You would have been too small
To understand today
Yet I would have kissed your tiny cheeks
A million times over
Just to wish you a happy Valentines
So much I had waited for
So much I craved for
Many more Valentines will come
Yet this one… 2017
Will forever haunt me

***

JThis poem reflects the profound sadness of experiencing a meaningful occasion after the loss of a child. A day that is traditionally associated with love, joy, and connection becomes a reminder of absence and unfulfilled hopes.

Rather than celebrating, the day intensifies grief because it highlights what was expected to happen and what was ultimately lost.

A central theme is the contrast between anticipation and reality. Valentine’s Day and the month in which the child was expected to be born were once connected to dreams of meeting, holding, and loving a newborn.

Those hopes transformed into mourning, making the occasion painful rather than joyful. The memories of what was imagined for the future exist alongside the reality that those moments will never occur, creating a deep sense of heartbreak.

The poem also conveys the difficulty of confronting physical reminders of loss. The thought of visiting the grave brings feelings of helplessness, longing, and disbelief.

The child feels emotionally close because of the enduring bond of love, yet physically unreachable because of death. This tension between emotional presence and physical absence creates much of the poem’s sorrow, as the heart continues to seek someone who can no longer be touched or held.

Another important aspect is the enduring nature of parental love. Although the child is gone, the affection that was meant to be expressed remains alive.

The imagined kisses, celebrations, and moments of tenderness reveal a love that had already formed and continues despite the loss. The poem suggests that love does not disappear when a life ends; instead, it remains and seeks an outlet, often through memory and longing.

The final reflection on Valentine’s Day 2017 shows how certain dates can become permanently attached to grief. Anniversaries, holidays, and significant milestones often carry emotional weight because they mark not only the passage of time but also the absence of someone who was expected to be there.

The day becomes a symbol of both love and loss, forever remembered as a moment when hope and heartbreak existed side by side.

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