Who I am.

I write about the landscape of grief, nature, and the wisdom of fools. The author of four books, my essays, poems, and reviews have been published in over 50 journals, including in the Huffington Post and Colorado Review. I’ve won the River Teeth Nonfiction Book Award, the Chautauqua and Literal Latte’s essay prizes, and my work has been nominated for four Pushcart Prizes and named a notable by Best American Essays. My account of hiking in Yosemite to deal with my wife’s death, Mountains of Light, was published by the University of Nebraska Press. http://www.markliebenow.com.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Bitterness vs. Compassion

Bitterness is a bale of barbed wire. After someone we love dies, we wrap it around ourselves to protect us from ever being hurt again. Life can’t get in, but we also can’t get out.

Bitterness has razor sharp edges. At a time when we aren’t able to feel anything else, we can feel this.

Bitterness is different than sorrow. Bitterness is sorrow covered with the jalapeno of anger and the habanero of rage.

* If you would like to read the rest of this post, let me know and I’ll send it to you. *

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