Grief's Compass: Walking the Wilderness with Emily Dickinson

Front Cover
Apprentice House, 2017 - Family & Relationships - 140 pages

"The Wilderness is new--to you. Master, let me lead you."

Emily Dickinson wrote these words to her mentor shortly after his wife died, inviting him to trust her intimate knowledge of grief's landscape. In Grief's Compass, Patricia McKernon Runkle takes Dickinson for her guide after the devastating loss of her brother. As she charts a path through the holy madness of grief and the grace of healing, she finds no stages. Instead, she finds points on a compass and lines from Dickinson that illuminate them. Gently suggesting that you can take your time healing, she becomes your patient companion.

"The 'hand you stretch me in the Dark, ' I put mine in," Dickinson wrote. Here is Patricia's hand, reaching for yours.

2017 Nautilus Book Award - Silver Medal, Lyrical Prose
2018 Rubery Book Award - Short List, Nonfiction

About the author (2017)

Patricia McKernon Runkle's creativity takes many forms, including poetry, prose, and music. She has worked as a writer and editor; she has also written songs and collaborative choral pieces. She holds a master's degree from Harvard Divinity School. Patricia lives in the New York area with her husband, and they cherish their two grown children.

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