After sadness may come joy and peace
The knowledge that the loved one is now safe
The burden of the tears ,the loss, the grief
Do any trees mourn for their lost green leaves
Which made a bed for me, almost my grave?
After sadness , cry for joy and peace
At first the death seems like the work of thieves
And in wild madness widows weep and rave
The burden of the tears, the loss, the grief
Even in old age we find release
Arms around the shoulder, touch we crave
After sadness may come joy and peace
After so much woe, the face is creased
Courage will come swiftly like a wave
After shedding tears,in loss, in grief
How do the sad with no known ritual behave?
The loss of spirit, lonely ones betrays
After sadness pray for joy and peace
Such grave burdens, tears, loss, and deep grief
How my heart sings 
Thank you so much,David.I appreciate and value your very kind comments.I would be pleased if anyone found that they were not alone in grief as they read my sadder poems.That we all love and lose should draw us together.So good to hear from you, my dear friend
Katherine
Oh, my goodness Katherine, what a tender, loving, heart-wrenching poem. How lovely, so lovely I wish that every adult who has known grief would read it and stop to think, “Yes, I understand this poet. I share in her grief because I’ve known grief too.” Thank you friend and fondest wishes, David