There's an Elephant in the Room

There's an elephant in the room. It's large and squatting. So, it is hard to get around it.
Yet, we squeeze by with “How are you?”
and “I am fine” and a thousand other forms of trivial chatter.

We talk about the weather. We talk about work.
We talk about everything - - - except the elephant in the room.

We all know it is there. We are thinking about the elephant as we talk together.
It is constantly on our minds. For you see, it is a very big elephant.
It has hurt us all. But, we do not talk about the elephant in the room.

Oh, please, say her name. Oh, please, say “Barbara” again.
Oh, please, let's talk about the elephant in the room.
For if we talk about her death, perhaps we can talk about her life.

Can I say “Barbara” to you, and not have you look away?
For if I cannot, then you are leaving me
Alone…

In a room

With an elephant…



By: Terry Ketterling (a bereaved mother)
Reprinted with permission of Bereavement Publishing, Inc. 1-888-604-4673
4765 North Carefree Circle, Colorado Springs, CO