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I Look To The Mourning Sky
A Book of Poems and Writing Prompts for the Grieving Heart: The Mourning Sky Series Book 1
I Look To The Mourning Sky: A Book of Poems and Writing Prompts for the Grieving Heart is a collection of poems for anyone who has experienced the immensity of loss. Its poems are written through the first year of grief and they seek to acknowledge the pain and complexity of this journey, which can be so isolating and overwhelming. While grief is a lifelong experience, it is something that is constantly changing and evolving. Its landscape is unpredictable and unrelenting. I Look to the Mourning Sky is a collection that seeks to meet people in the storms of their sadness and remind them that they aren’t alone. Also included are twelve writing prompts centered around grief and processing. Whether your grief is fresh or you can’t imagine a time you weren’t carrying it, these poems and prompts are written with the goal of giving you a safe space to feel the ups and downs of loss and to heal in your own way at your own pace. Whether you are an avid writer or can’t remember the last time you ever put pen to paper, these prompts are designed for you: to write your story, to share your story, to make sense of the things you don’t say aloud. The love you still have for who and what you've lost is so deeply important. The chapters of their love and the pages of memories are yours to keep. Your grief, their story, and how it's helped you write yours: it matters. It all matters. I hope this helps you on your journey.
I Look To The Mourning Sky: A Book of Poems and Writing Prompts for the Grieving Heart is a collection of poems for anyone who has experienced the immensity of loss. Its poems are written through the first year of grief and they seek to acknowledge the pain and complexity of this journey, which can be so isolating and overwhelming. While grief is a lifelong experience, it is something that is constantly changing and evolving. Its landscape is unpredictable and unrelenting. I Look to the Mourning Sky is a collection that seeks to meet people in the storms of their sadness and remind them that they aren’t alone. Also included are twelve writing prompts centered around grief and processing. Whether your grief is fresh or you can’t imagine a time you weren’t carrying it, these poems and prompts are written with the goal of giving you a safe space to feel the ups and downs of loss and to heal in your own way at your own pace. Whether you are an avid writer or can’t remember the last time you ever put pen to paper, these prompts are designed for you: to write your story, to share your story, to make sense of the things you don’t say aloud. The love you still have for who and what you've lost is so deeply important. The chapters of their love and the pages of memories are yours to keep. Your grief, their story, and how it's helped you write yours: it matters. It all matters. I hope this helps you on your journey.
- GenresPoetryGriefNonfiction
112 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 13, 2021
111 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Liz Newman
4 books17 followersLiz Newman is a blogger and a poet from the Midwest who writes primarily on grief, faith, life, mental health, and relationships.
Her poetry book "I Look to the Mourning Sky" received a Readers' Favorite Bronze Medal in 2022 in the Inspirational Poetry Category.
Her words have been shared on "Her View From Home", "Read Poetry", "Love What Matters", and "The Mighty". They have also appeared in the London Underground.
She believes in the power of words to comfort, connect, and bring hope. Her journey through grief has been a humbling reminder of how desperately we all need grace and each other.
She writes with the hope that her words can meet people right where they are and make them feel seen in their own difficult seasons.
Her poetry book "I Look to the Mourning Sky" received a Readers' Favorite Bronze Medal in 2022 in the Inspirational Poetry Category.
Her words have been shared on "Her View From Home", "Read Poetry", "Love What Matters", and "The Mighty". They have also appeared in the London Underground.
She believes in the power of words to comfort, connect, and bring hope. Her journey through grief has been a humbling reminder of how desperately we all need grace and each other.
She writes with the hope that her words can meet people right where they are and make them feel seen in their own difficult seasons.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 28, 2021
Having lost my own father this year, I Look to the Mourning Sky holds special significance for me. Liz Newman's book functions on two levels, being both a loving tribute to her deceased father and a grief chronicle filled with gentle wisdom and raw honesty.
The journey of grieving the loss of a loved one is mapped through poetry, each poem examining different emotions and experiences along the way. I was especially moved by "Your Headstone" which juxtaposes how daily life goes on, while the grieving person must deal with the details of death and loss. Despite the heavy subject matter, I Look to the Mourning Sky has consistent threads of hope and encouragement running through it, as evidenced in poems like "Your Love Goes With Me" and "The Chapters We Don't Understand."
This is a book that comforts and uplifts the grieving heart, and it includes helpful journaling prompts designed to assist the reader in processing their own grief. Liz Newman is a compassionate writer, willing to bare her heart through poetry in order to help others heal. I highly recommend this book.
The journey of grieving the loss of a loved one is mapped through poetry, each poem examining different emotions and experiences along the way. I was especially moved by "Your Headstone" which juxtaposes how daily life goes on, while the grieving person must deal with the details of death and loss. Despite the heavy subject matter, I Look to the Mourning Sky has consistent threads of hope and encouragement running through it, as evidenced in poems like "Your Love Goes With Me" and "The Chapters We Don't Understand."
This is a book that comforts and uplifts the grieving heart, and it includes helpful journaling prompts designed to assist the reader in processing their own grief. Liz Newman is a compassionate writer, willing to bare her heart through poetry in order to help others heal. I highly recommend this book.
December 28, 2021
I really enjoyed reading the poetry in this book. The poems spoke to my heart and were very comforting. This book is perfect for anyone who is grieving the loss of a loved one. The journaling prompts at the end of the book are very cathartic and a thoughtful bonus.
October 25, 2022
What a touching collection of poems. This book was beautifully embedded with raw, vulnerable words while still being threaded with lights of hope. I loved how the writer takes us on a comforting and moving journey through grief, from the dark skies to a mourning light of hope. Using literary devices such as rhyme and repetition makes each poem's words more powerful and linger a bit longer in your heart. This book was a comforting hug, showing with grief, there is pain, but there is also love and hope along the way. The journaling prompts are a lovely bonus. Thank you, Liz, for sharing your journey and heartfelt words.
August 28, 2022
I’ve been fortunate to not experience traumatic loss in my life thus far, so I’ve struggled with how to support anyone around me during those difficult times. I know I can’t fully understand the depth of their pain and loss and often that’s made me feel helpless when loss strikes… until I was introduced to this book. Liz has found a way to capture those raw, vulnerable moments that she experienced in her own loss to show others that they aren’t alone. To feel heard and seen. To provide hope in healing. I’ve given a copy of “I Look to the Mourning Sky” to 3 friends and family members who have lost someone dear to them and I know it’ll provide the comfort that I could never give. Thank you Liz for sharing your journey with us
May 24, 2022
“I can’t help but battle the shame that I’m falling behind / lagging due to loss / groaning in my grief.”
What can I say? This book is truly something special. I loved the gentle rhythm and stunning imagery in Liz’s poetry. If you are going through a period of grief, I encourage you to read this book. It’s like the author is reaching through the page to hold your hand as she walks you through her story. I think you’ll find your own grief journey reflected in this beautiful collection. It’s been a while since I’ve read something so heartbreaking and hopeful.
What can I say? This book is truly something special. I loved the gentle rhythm and stunning imagery in Liz’s poetry. If you are going through a period of grief, I encourage you to read this book. It’s like the author is reaching through the page to hold your hand as she walks you through her story. I think you’ll find your own grief journey reflected in this beautiful collection. It’s been a while since I’ve read something so heartbreaking and hopeful.
November 1, 2023
A mixed picture really. The writing prompts included in the book were really useful and I felt they were well thought out. The poetry was not great though - some were better than others but overall pretty low quality content, badly edited and a lot of repetition of the same tired styles. I didn’t realise before purchasing it that it was self published but this became apparent immediately on opening the book due to the editing and lack of attention to detail. I also did realise there was a religious element to it, although this wasn’t over the top or offensive so didn’t bother me.
May 1, 2025
I wanted this to be sadder and more depressing than what it was. Grief is said in almost every poem multiple times and it gets to be a chore to read this poems. There was also random Bible verses and scripture thrown into the poems sometimes, it didn't really bother me though it was just strange. Mid way through there was also hyper links to websites for grief and it seemed artifical. I wanted to read this and gain something and I didn't. Some of the poems were good though. I also didn't care for the writing prompts at the end. Couldn't wait to finish this.
May 10, 2023
Well done!
Salient, lyrical, and unapologetically candid in her exploration of not only Grief, but its parents and siblings. While the common thread of a handful of smaller pieces may have been brought together under a single title, each does well on its own, so hats off to giving them a soft and simple voice rather than chance losing any in the choir of compilation.
Nicely done.
Salient, lyrical, and unapologetically candid in her exploration of not only Grief, but its parents and siblings. While the common thread of a handful of smaller pieces may have been brought together under a single title, each does well on its own, so hats off to giving them a soft and simple voice rather than chance losing any in the choir of compilation.
Nicely done.
August 12, 2023
I found this author sharing her poetry on either tiktok or Instagram and instantly bought her book.
My mom passed in December of last year and... sometimes it's difficult to know you're not alone in your grief. In your longing for a different ending.
I journaled around a few of these poems. I painted over some. I simply sat with a few. And some I skipped entirely. That's how art works.
If you're grieving or know someone who is, this is a great addition to your life.
My mom passed in December of last year and... sometimes it's difficult to know you're not alone in your grief. In your longing for a different ending.
I journaled around a few of these poems. I painted over some. I simply sat with a few. And some I skipped entirely. That's how art works.
If you're grieving or know someone who is, this is a great addition to your life.
July 10, 2022
This book is a beautiful in its gentleness. A tribute to a father given up to heaven, and the legacy he left be hind. A call to lement, and make space for greif. But also, an encuragment.
The author writes with a accessible style, and welcomes you in to a world where greif is asserted as a part of life. It's not something looked but also no longer feared.
A beautiful gift to the world.
The author writes with a accessible style, and welcomes you in to a world where greif is asserted as a part of life. It's not something looked but also no longer feared.
A beautiful gift to the world.
January 5, 2022
This book is full of the raw, truthful and hope-filled journey of grief. The words touched my heart in ways that inspired me to seek new peace in my journey. This is a beautiful collection of the author's experience. I'm honored to have read it.
December 30, 2023
excellent for grieving hearts
The poetry here is not so poetic that you can’t get it, it is gritty, real, touching imagery, helpful expressions. And the writing prompts are powerful if exercised. Highly recommend for hurting hearts.
The poetry here is not so poetic that you can’t get it, it is gritty, real, touching imagery, helpful expressions. And the writing prompts are powerful if exercised. Highly recommend for hurting hearts.
April 8, 2023
It’s almost scary how much u can relate to the writer and the poems.
July 10, 2023
Beautiful Poetry
Amazing beautiful thoughts and feeling arise reading these endearing poems. I was absolutely thrilled with Liz Newman's "I Look to the Morning Sky"
Amazing beautiful thoughts and feeling arise reading these endearing poems. I was absolutely thrilled with Liz Newman's "I Look to the Morning Sky"
July 11, 2023
A bit more of a religious lens then I anticipated, nonetheless I enjoyed layering my own spiritual beliefs as I read to really e twin myself and feel some healing. Beautiful, thank you Liz
August 13, 2023
I lost my brother this year and got lost in the pain this helped me understand/deal with it more easily. It’s still painful and difficult but this shone a new light on my situation.
November 5, 2023
Liz's courage in exposing her own journey with loss is more than inspiring. This collection is relatable and vulnerable in a way that helps with healing. Beautiful job.
December 11, 2023
I am currently reading these beautiful and sensitive poems, and am finding a blessing in each one.
February 7, 2024
Great book of poems for anyone greiving.
November 30, 2024
Very comforting. Very relatable after my mom died.
January 17, 2025
This was beautifully written.
March 18, 2025
Beautiful words when you can’t find anything but tears.
Grief is the hardest thing to navigate. From Day 1 to whoever that loved one is.
Liz shows her heartfelt loss better than anyone I was able to relate to when I lost my father to cancer in 2024. Sharing her work with Mom, how the words resonated with me after losing Dad over what would have been their 46th anniversary, Dec 30, 2024. It touched her and she looked forward to her book I was going to order.
I wouldn’t know that opening that book would be to pick out a poem for my Mom’s memorial service. Liz was so kind in letting me share her words because I was at a loss for them.
Thank you Liz.
Grief is the hardest thing to navigate. From Day 1 to whoever that loved one is.
Liz shows her heartfelt loss better than anyone I was able to relate to when I lost my father to cancer in 2024. Sharing her work with Mom, how the words resonated with me after losing Dad over what would have been their 46th anniversary, Dec 30, 2024. It touched her and she looked forward to her book I was going to order.
I wouldn’t know that opening that book would be to pick out a poem for my Mom’s memorial service. Liz was so kind in letting me share her words because I was at a loss for them.
Thank you Liz.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews