The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily 1413: On Proliferation by Cass Donish
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Dec 16, 2025 Explore the intricate relationship between grief and creativity as Maggie Smith delves into the five stages of grief, highlighting their unique, non-linear nature. She reflects on how writing serves as a powerful tool to articulate loss, acknowledging that while it may not heal, there's beauty in the attempt. The featured poem navigates memory and the significance of objects in maintaining connections with those we've lost, ending with a poignant image that captures the struggle between presence and remembrance.
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Grief Is Nonlinear
- Grief doesn't follow a linear roadmap of stages as popularly imagined.
- Elizabeth Kübler-Ross herself said stages are non-linear and people may skip or reorder them.
Writing As A Grief Response
- Writing can be a personal stage of grief without being a cure.
- Maggie Smith says writing honors loss even though it cannot restore what was lost.
Honoring Loss Through Attempted Language
- Maggie admits she doesn't view writing about loss as healing or restorative.
- She emphasizes there are distances language can't cross, but there is honor in trying.
