From There to There

From there, where southern waters gleam,
In carefree white and azure haze,
It’s never easy, like a dream,
To leave behind those halcyon days.
To face the north, the winter’s bite,
To labor’s grind and autumn’s chill,
Where hopelessness obscures the light,
And time stands stubbornly and still.
To say goodbye, to let them go,
A dozen times to everyone.
To grant forgiveness, as you know,
Before the setting of the sun.
A second lap, a third one too,
Even with no grudge to bear –
Forgive them all, start life anew,
Without a prideful, saintly air.
To tell them how you loved it all,
Born in that summer, bright and vast.
To vow that when the shadows fall,
You’ll find your way back home at last.
To dream of how you’ll return one day,
To embrace those who went before,
Who left just so, then slipped away,
But live forever on that shore.
And then, with motions learned by heart,
A reflex, or a habit’s trace,
As circles close and you depart
To find another time and place –
Deep in a pocket, tucked away,
In that old shirt you used to wear,
A letter from a friend will stay,
Who left even before you there.
To wave your soul in one last sign,
To hug them all, to hide the fears.
To keep the smile, to hold the line,
And brush away the rising tears.
“I will be back!” – the cry rings clear,
One final shout for all to hear.

2024