"Rending the Garments" by Ronna Bloom

For this National Poetry Month, I am grateful I came across the work of Ronna Bloom. She has six published volumes of poetry under her belt and creates works of penetrating tenderness and immediacy.

This astonishing piece, "Rending the Garments" speaks to the idea of recognizing painful life changes--not just death--with ritual.

Ritual is the technology of the sacred, and can give events a shape and meaning, especially when those events are hard to comprehend and process. And ritual within one's community gives a kind of support missing in the world at large.

Rending the Garments
By Ronna Bloom

There should be a shiva for every kind of grief—
the break-up, the diagnosis, the assault—
where people come unbidden and
wash their hands and casseroles
and hold you.

They do this all day or three times a day
for seven days so you know, you know
it happened and matters to more
than you, matters to a community of you.

What’s needed is wailing with an ax, frights,
outings, and touch. Touch and singing.
Can you hear me?
Has anyone done that for you, lately
Or ever? Come over, torn open the sky
and let the snow fall in the wrong mouth
to show there’s a rip in the face of the world?

https://ronnabloom.com/