Life’s Missing Teacher

These four couplets unfold like stepping stones — small pauses across the quiet waters of loss. Each one holds a moment of recognition, a shift in understanding, a breath before the next step. Paired with Leonard Cohen’s “Teachers,” the poem traces the lessons we never received, and the ones we learn only by walking toward them





Life’s Missing Teacher

I never found a teacher,
who taught me how to grieve.

The unforeseen creature
was difficult to perceive.

After unplugging her extension cord,
time was always near.

While wandering toward
the edge of life’s weathered pier.



.





Ivor Steven ©  May 3rd 2026

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ivor20

G'day, and welcome to my blog site. My name is Ivor Steven, I live in Geelong, Australia. I'm an ex-industrial chemist, and a retired plumber, and a former Carer of my wife(Carole), for 30 years, who suffered from severe MS. I Write poetry about those personal thoughts, throughout and beyond my life as a Carer. I've been blogging for over 2 years, and writing poems for 19 years. Of course a lot of my poems are about my favourite subject Carole, but since I've been blogging my writings have become quite varied, humourous, mystical, observational, and even a few monster/horror poems.

27 thoughts on “Life’s Missing Teacher”

    1. And of course no can teach us how to grieve, and the poem traces the lessons we never received, and the ones we learn only by walking toward them … 🥰💕🤗

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  2. This is so true, my friend. Grief affects all of us and we handle it differently. It is something we can’t tamp down or ignore; it’s almost as though it has a will of its own. No one can teach us how to grieve or how to deal with grief. We just keep going, one day, one step at a time, until one day, we find life has become bearable once again. Your beautiful words shine through this fantastic soundtrack by Mr. Cohen. You are both phenomenal in my eyes. 🩵 🎶

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  10. Aw. 😦 What you said in your opening, your photos, your poem, and by sharing Mr. Cohen’s song and words is so helpful to all of us…as we all grieve. We do all handle it differently. We live and learn…and be it good or not so good, we often learn the most through the most difficult times. Then, even if there is no other positive in it all, there is the positive that we can be empathetic, understanding and help others when they are grieving.
    You are a teacher and a helper in life, and in your poems, Ivor! Thank you!
    (((HUGS))) ❤️❤️❤️

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