Analysis of The Eleven Great Sadnesses

The first great sadness comes unexpected.
Suddenly one of your friends is now dead.
It seems like just the other day,
You two were together, maybe soccer did play.
Life goes on, all too soon, afterward.
The memories fade, but the scars are hard.

The second great sadness is scheduled by norm.
Dropping off children at their dorm.
They are happy, bags on their back.
They wave and smile, then don’t look back.
You drive home, with tears in your eye.
Your young ones now alone do fly.

The third great sadness may come with dread.
One of your parents is leaving, you’re by their bed.
With broken heart and a sad good bye,
You take care of papers and try no tto cry.

The fourth great sadness is odd but cold.
But the family pet is dying and old.
A favorite cat, or the bog you walked so often,
No longer there, few words can this blow soften.

These last three sad events may come close together.
This is a hard time in life, stormy weather.
You try to get past it, move on with your life.
Live for each other, husband and wife.

The fifth great sadness comes, parent number two.
Now you are alone again, though not quite true.
Both of your friends that raised you since birth,
Are together again, but you have no mirth.

The sixth great sadness is a siblings’ loss.
Once you all played together, now flowers tossed.
You recall their parties, friends, and school.
You console their spouse, as children’s tears cool.

The eighth great sadness doesn’t happen to all.
A marriage is ending, the lawyers are called.
What was once a joy, now is but pain.
Two parents together will not be again.

The ninth great sadness has the greatest cost.
But the death of a child brings the greatest loss.
An unimaginable grief will be carried together,
The smiling baby or child, is gone forever.

The tenth great sadness is the death of a spouse.
Many years married, it was a happy house.
One of you sad, for you will have to go on,
The other sad, leaving the other alone.
Trying to focus on the happy times,
But the tears of grief are burning your eyes.

The last great sadness, may not so sad be.
Your time has come, but soon you will be free.
You know that those that left before, you may see.
But leaving family behind, it is still sad to leave.

@David Lechner, All Rights Reserved.