How to Mourn a Death

When you mourn a death, it’s not odd

To cry until you can’t even shed tears

Or blame yourself for everything bad that happened

And it’s not odd to

Feel cheated for the rest of your life

Or to feel weak and helpless

And it’s not odd to blame a certain person or people for the death

Or to feel hatred in your heart

And it’s not odd to become an empty shell of emotion

Or to feel that this poem is repetitive

Because this poem isn’t just about death

It’s also a manual for how to deal with it

To accept it and get over it

Because death is like a predator stalking you

And you will never outrun it.

It will come in for the kill sooner or later.

If you are happy and you have hope

The predator will have no teeth.

Make an impression on the world

And continue running from the predator.

This is my impression to the world!

Good health to all,

I am immortal in poetry.

.

- Shane Smeaton, 8th Grade

- The Charter School of San Diego

- October 2001


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