When Autumn Stopped Being So Beautiful:
For Derek, 9/29/1979 – 10/26/2011
Fall unsettles me.
The air cools with a hush
that’s both fleeting
and permanent.
The moon reflects silence
and absence.
My son was born
in late September.
I lost him in October.
Two months hold celebration
and grief, memory
and mourning together
where I walk again through
the joy of cradling my firstborn
and the ache of his leaving.
© Linda K. Sienkiewicz 2025
Remember, one conversation, asking someone how they’re really doing — and being ready to truly listen — can save lives. Because here’s what we know: No one has to face this alone. Help exists. Healing is possible. And all it can take is for one person to start a conversation. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Also read Derek’s Black Hill Spruce
Birthdays after you lose a child
