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Grief doesn’t arrive as a single moment, and it rarely leaves in a straight line. This creative, story-driven retelling of a father’s experience living with baby loss, uses one extended metaphor to make the invisible feel real: drifting onto open waters and tides that keep changing when you least expect them.

The poem, "Grief", written by Kelly Jean-Philippe, starts with the quiet drift, the subtle pull away from what used to feel familiar and safe. Then the current strengthens. Loneliness and isolation become the unseen forces that carry you farther out than you realized, until “wherever there is” stops making sense. If you’ve lived through infant loss, miscarriage, or the death of a child, you may recognize that disorientation. If you’re supporting someone who has, this story offers a clearer window into why grief can look like distance, silence, or exhaustion.

Then the unexpected part: a sudden surge. Memories and emotions rise like a storm, with fear and anxiety breaking overhead and pulling you under.

This poem honors the truth that grieving can be menacing, physical, and cyclical, and that “coping” sometimes means doing whatever it takes to resurface. The ending holds a sliver of peace after the tide retreats, along with the dread of drifting out again.

If this resonates, subscribe for more episodes, share this with someone who needs language for their grief, and leave a review so more listeners can find stories like this.

What line hit you the hardest?

SUPPORT PATHWAY

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PEER-SUPPORT

Black Dads in Loss Support Group

Dads in Loss Support Group

For a list of other support groups through Postpartum Support International click here.

THEME MUSIC

"Love Letter” was created using AI as a creative tool, with lyrics and direction shaped by the personal experiences and emotional intent of the host.

Sound effects from Soundstripe

RELATED EPISODES

Narrative pt. 1 | Narrative pt. 2 | Narrative pt. 3 | Narrative pt. 4