Step 1, denial, say that it's wrong,
Isolate yourself in your own little song;
Let the melody of sadness, the harmony of grief,
Fill you from your toes to your teeth.
Step 2, be mad, let the world know it,
Scream and shout and be angry to show it.
Step 3, bargain, barter, and plea,
Think if done differently how things would be.
Step 4, depression, begin to mourn,
Let the tears run riveras, hug, be forlorn.
Step 5, acceptance, what's done is done,
Your loved one is dead,
Deal with it,
Move on.

Such are the steps, the stages of grief,
The pattern psychologists say we should be.
Alas they are wrong, these stages are off,
Leaving we proper grievers only to scoff.
"How does one grieve properly?" you kind souls ask,
Grieving correctly is no simple task.
Many cry folly, say there is no such thing,
We grievers shake our heads, "Yes there is!" we sing,
"In order to grieve, to deal with loss,
You must take control, show the universe who's boss.
Take time to be sad, to miss his or her presence,
But remember the memories that soul gave us as presents.
Think of the time you did this or that,
Had fun together, acted tit-for-tat.
Ran through the honeysuckle, climbed orange trees to the sky,
Every moment of genius, every question asked why.
Remember the day you lit candles to burn wood,
Reminisce about the carburetor that could.
Recant the experience where your loved one came to support,
And your failed key missions that caused you to smile and say, 'Let's abort!'
Nostalgia is beautiful, and as you can see,
Rememories are the way to grieve properly. "