I said goodbye to my man children after the holiday. One left in a car, one on a plane. As they left, this poem I wrote in 2015 was resurrected in my mind.
It never seems there’s time enough
To get past all the surface stuff
We fit in all the pleasant things
That living distant always brings
We don’t intend to leave it out
Sharing hearts; relieving doubts
But busy lives and things of fun
Keep us ever on the run
We know we’re loved, most certainly
Our lives are tied intrinsically
But time for talk seems hard to find
Departure now, is so unkind
We hesitate, we sit and wait
But time is short, it’s getting late
Driveway hugs, our last goodbye
Swallow hard, try not to cry
Loves rope tied to parting hearts
Vision blurred; teardrops start
Out of sight, mile one
Rope is snapped, my heart undone
Goodbye kisses; on their way
So much more I want to say
Wishing I could take back time
And keep my treasures only mine
In the house, up the stairs
Sheets to wash, no child there
A fragrance in the pillow case
Close your eyes, see a face
Your child’s heart can never glean
The deepest love that isn’t seen
His “parent eyes” are gently veiled
His children come, then veiling fails
And what I give to those I’ll miss,
A driveway hug and goodbye kiss,
Doesn’t fill the gap I feel
As distance grows with spinning wheels…
…It never seems there’s time enough
To close the gap with words of love
But packed inside the goodbye kiss
Is deepest love for treasures missed