Grief--By April Mae M. Berza--Philippines

Grief

As the leaves touched the ground,
I watched how they became docile
Servants, surrendering gracefully.

This is the first time I inhaled
The presence of sadness in
My being that I almost fainted.

These leaves taught me to
Submit to sadness but I am firm
To plunge myself in bliss.

My sense of touch failed me
For I could not feel the warmth
Of the sun as it embraced.

April Mae M. Berza is the author of Confession ng isang Bob Ong fan (Flipside, 2014). She is a member of the Poetic Genius Society. Her poems and short stories appeared in numerous publications in the US, Canada, UK, Romania, India, Japan and the Philippines. Some of her poems are published in Poetica, The Manila Times and Contemporary Verse 2, to name a few. Her poem "E-Martial Law" was broadcast on IndoPacific Radio on KPFA 94.1FM/kpfa.org. She lives in Taguig, Philippines.