Of Death and Grief

This little book of poems reveals how the author has dealt with the grief that accompanied the death of his wife of fifty-nine years. The poems are a conversation on the journey through the grieving process, which perhaps has no end. Yes, they are permeated with a deep faith that there is more to life than merely living and dying. At the same time, they are honest responses to how painful it is to lose your life partner. Many of the poems are autobiographical: about first encounter, marriage, life and love together, and death. The actual physical occurrence of death can be readily described by physicians, but its emotional and life effect is much more illusory. Without question, these poems are simply one person's response to death and grief. They provide no decisive answers on how to respond to either, but if one's open and honest response can help others address such challenges, so be it. The goal of the author is not to provide steps for the grieving, rather through poetry to share the thoughts of the heart and mind as they grapple with death and grief. He avers that through the very difficult process of grieving, which may never completely end, love alone is the key to healing and renewal. ""In these piercingly honest poems occasioned by the death of his beloved wife, Sarah, S T Kimbrough, Jr., gives unguarded voice to his grief. This is not easy reading because these poems force us to face not only the death of those we love but our deaths. These are searing poems, but in a strange way they are beautiful."" --Stanley Hauerwas, Professor of Theology and Ethics, Divinity School, Durham, North Carolina ""In these 33 poems by S T Kimbrough, Jr., I found a depth of love, grief, passion, and power that poetry alone can convey. My heart was melted and my resolve to live fully and die well was strengthened. The journey of life and death--grief and loss--is artfully presented. This little volume will bless and benefit many."" --Thomas R. Albin, Director of Spiritual Formation and Congregational Life, The Upper Room Ministries, Nashville, Tennessee ""Kimbrough writes of the reality of the death of his wife in poems that express grief with emotion, tears, and faith. His acknowledgement of the enduring love of God and of his own love for his wife is based on the grace given by God in times of hurt, grief and loss. His poems also tell of the fact that even within 'grief there is hope, ' comfort and assurance of God's presence."" --Joyce D. Sohl, Laywomen-in-Residence, Scarritt Bennett Center, Nashville, Tennessee ""I am moved by Kimbrough's ability to translate the many feelings that go with death and loss into words that he is now sharing with others. I am sure these poems will be a comfort to those who read them. They also model for others the power of writing to access inner strength and wisdom during a time of grieving."" --Peggy J. Kinney, Hospice Bereavement Counselor, Duke Hospice Bereavement Services, Duke Home Care and Hospice S T Kimbrough, Jr., holds a PhD from Princeton Theological Seminary and is currently a research fellow of the Center for Studies in the Wesleyan Tradition at Duke Divinity School, Durham, North Carolina. He is author of the following books by Wipf and Stock: The Lyrical Theology of Charles Wesley, Radical Grace: Justice for the Poor and Marginalized, Partakers of the Life Divine: Participation in the Divine Nature in the Writings of Charles Wesley, and has published poetry in the journal Theology Today.