April is the cruelest month, T.S. Eliot wrote, painting a poetic picture of lilacs springing from dead land, “mixing memories and desire, stirring dull roots with spring rain.” In this view, spring is not merely a celebration of flowers and fecundity; it is also a time to reflect on both renewal and loss. These days, both are with us, and we would do well to reflect on both the pain and the promise.