Cairns

A poem about grief, trauma, and healing journeys

When I clicked on the About statement for the literary journal Harrow House, I immediately felt resonance.

Harrow House was born of a desire to create a healing space for poets to share works centered on trauma, loss, and grief. It is intended to be a safe, inclusive space where pain is valid, and words are used to connect and heal.

I indeed felt safe entrusting them with my poem “Cairns,” which was just published in their December 2025 edition. I have been fascinated for a long time with the memorial and symbolic nature of cairns. They have their origin in Ireland during prehistoric times. The urge to pile up stones into a monument to mark the passage from one life to another seems simultaneously organic and preternatural. In modern times, cairns also form landmarks that help travelers locate trails and mountain summits.

Photo by Kind and Curious on Unsplash

It was both the idea of memorials and landmarks that served as the guide for my poem about the journey of healing.

I hope you will read their entire issue, and if you are a poet, I highly recommend submitting to them. Their submission guidelines are found here.