"The Aroma of Lilac, Poems on Grief, Hope and Healing After Loss"
is a collection of poems on grieving and recovering from the loss of a loved one. Lilacs in literature symbolize spring and rebirth, resurrection, and through their heart-shaped leaves, love. Since they are early-spring blooming flowers, they offer gentle encouragement to go on and endure.
"The Aroma of Lilac"
explores the vulnerabilities of our being human, trying to understand our place on earth, celebrating life and its happiness (when possible), facing our own death and the curiosities of an afterlife, acknowledging regrets and the limitations of being human-all while trying to be resilient. It is only natural to dwell upon the challenges we face in our lives and why or how some events occur. Each may remain a mystery while our losses grip us in the most consuming and profound ways. There is great peace in being open to what comes and in thinking about our loss and its grief as a process that places our grief in the context of a life event and recognizing that its impact will never leave us. But it cannot be our only focus. In order to continue on, we will need to surround our grief with new aspects of what makes our lives meaningful. Grieving clearly is a process where grief is not "cured" but coped with as best we can.
provides concise thoughts about how we might take the first steps in the process of healing by looking at the natural world that surrounds us and seeing our grief within a larger context.