An art hardly perfected – how can you?
– Humans are far too emotional to do a real Irish goodbye when they care –
We cannot practice; we can only do.
You will believe that the first time will
Break you.
In the park, drawing out the minutes until the sun takes matters in its own hands
– It nudges you, just since it’s your first time (Beware, you’ll rarely be coaxed again) –
And bids its farewell,
So you do too.
As the crater cracks open as you part ways – just like your heart will –
You will glance back (Wrong!) and catch their longing look.
You may try to turn back time (You cannot), jump over the distance you created to be held once more (You won’t). Goodbyes are not forgiving.
Next time, you’ll be prepared, you think.
A backpack and a dream, you queue to go through security.
You’ve learned though from last time: don’t look back!
You do not re-experience the pain of the last glance (Congrats, you’ve learned!),
But of the burning gazes in your back, willing you to turn (Do not!).
– Be a strong soldier. –
Instead, your fingers act as windshield wipers,
Hold off the rain. Go through security.
Once your plane takes off, with your vision blurry
And where you once called home is
Just a faraway dot on a map,
You will realize you are not even a novice.
And you hope you will never become one.
Cover Image: Leaving and Waiting 8/2004. Deanna Dikeman.
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