Grief Cradled in Gratitude
Nestled in Gratitude: The Delicate Balance of Grief and Healing
Poetry, like art in its purest form, has always been something I believed transcended the fray of worldly conflicts—untouched by the divisiveness of politics or religion, existing beyond the constraints of language and belief. In my mind, it occupied its own realm, free from the burdens that weigh down the world. But as I hold this poetry magazine in my hands, I can’t help but feel the weight it carries. The verses are heavy, not just with meaning, but with the divisions that fracture our world. It’s painful to acknowledge, but maybe poetry isn’t always above it all. Maybe, sometimes, it’s right there in the thick of it, struggling just like the rest of us.
A couple of weeks ago, I received the latest issue of Iton 77, which my childhood friend Micha has faithfully sent me for 37 years. The arrival of the big mailing envelope is something I cherish—it’s a testament to our deep connection. It carries the scent of Hebrew in its most tender expression, and I always find a few lines that move me like the pluck of a string on a musical instrument; in that way, only poetry can. In our conversation, Micha mentioned, “I debated publishing this Arabic-only translated material. I thought it wasn’t the right time, but when is the right time?” I replied, “Poetry is above it.” But as I started flipping through the pages, I felt a weight, a distance. Was it the magazine or something within me?
And yet, even as poetry grapples with these heavy themes, it offers us something more. In moments of conflict and sorrow, we find the intertwined threads of gratitude and grief. Gratitude holds grief like a nest cradles an egg—delicate, yet full of potential. In times of loss, when the weight of the world seems unbearable, gratitude provides a place for grief to rest and transform. It doesn’t erase the pain, just as the nest doesn’t change the egg’s fragility. Instead, it offers a soft place to land, a space where sorrow and thankfulness can coexist.
This delicate balance is where true healing begins. Gratitude doesn’t dismiss grief; it acknowledges it, embraces it, and creates a home where beauty and love can still flourish amidst the pain. It teaches us that, like an egg in its nest, we are safe to feel, to mourn, find the strength to hatch into something new, and eventually fly.
In this way, gratitude becomes a powerful companion on our journey through life’s struggles. It allows us to hold our grief gently, recognizing it as a natural and necessary part of our experience. Through gratitude, we find the strength to see light in the darkness, to discover moments of peace even when our hearts are heavy. And perhaps, just like the poetry that now feels so heavy in my hands, we learn that it’s okay to carry the weight of the world—because, in that weight, we also find our way forward.