Words fail us

Our words fail us
We fumble over our tenses
She loves, loved
Wants, wanted
We're not careless, just adjusting

And our language describing death is so lacking
"I'm sorry for your loss"
And yet they are not lost
We sing them to "sleep"
But we suspect that heaven is beyond their wildest dreams
and it's us left in a daze
sleep walking through these days past

And we ask each other, "Are you okay?"
"Well, obviously you're not okay...but...well...err...well, you know?"
What does it mean to be okay right now?
Does it look like tears sheeting down our faces?
Does it look like kneeling with no words, heads in hands?
Does it look like laughing uncontrollably?
Does it look like carrying on with life and staying busy?
Does it look like making space in the diary and stopping?
Does it look like pushing ourselves to be with others?
Does it look like retreating and reflecting?

Well, then we're doing okay.

Yes, our words fail us
except "I love you"
"I love you" never does.
Because love never fails
It lasts through eternity
Stands the test of time
Always relevant
Always needed.

And so we are left saying "I love you"
and we say it a lot.