The Longest Goodbye

I was finally able to write this piece after living through 7 years of guilt.

You sat there watching me

As I rushed around the house

Tossing things into boxes

With a look on your face...

"uh oh... mom's being silly again"

A quick phone call or two

None being the right one

No "don't do it - don't go - you'll be sorry"

 

Would it have mattered?

Would I have listened by then?

 

You watched the car pull up

A man takes the boxes

Frozen tears fall from the sky

Blending with my own.

I bend down to hug and kiss you

"Be a good girl - Mommy loves you"

And the car takes me away.

 

How long did you sit

Watching out the window

For my return

Before you realized

I wasn't coming back?

What went through your mind?

 

But... I did come back after 4 months

Only for awhile.

Seeing you realize

It was me.

Bending down so you could smother me

With kisses all over my face.

Funny how, out of everyone

You were the happiest to see me.

 

Then I was gone again.

But I did come back...

And you were gone.

Never again would I see you

Except in my dreams.

 

I'm sorry.

 

 

Author's Note

As if it wasn't hard enough writing this in Aug '07... it was almost as hard re-typing it now... amazing how the tears can flow.

Reviews

[Fantasyfairy]

I have been bought to tears! If you knew me, then you would know that isn't something that happens often. Such a beautiful poem. I thought at first it was about a child, then I got to the end and discovered it was a baby still, just not a human one. Animals are the hardest to leave behind because there is no way of ever explaining why you have to leave them, and that you will not be back for a while. Such a shame you had to lose her completely. They love with such devotion, unconditional love, and they never lie or pretend to like you when they don't. XX

[The Random Writings Of ..]

O my gosh, this was a, well hard piece to read. So sad, so painful, I can feel my heart just tearing in two. You captured this so well. I don't know you, and I don't know if this is personal or not, but if it is I am so sorry. To feel this and to have to experience this must be very diffiuclt. Wonderful write, in the sense that it is so very sad.
Kates

[Rain]

This one really got to me. It looks like my dog. I buried one and swore I'd never get another because I couldn't stand the pain of losing them. I cried harder burying Kato than anyone I've lost. I mmissed two days of work. That was 10 years ago, and I still grieve for him. I loved this. Rain..

It's kind of sad that sometimes the only people in our lives that miss us most when we are gone are our beloved pets.

[Kaykay]

I love it as you can see I love pets as soon as I get a house a dog will be joining me in my family

[* Mourning Starr *]

I really, liked this piece.....If the picture that accompanied this piece was the girl you were referring to in the poem then I was really surprised at the end, the piece was so well written it sounded as though you were talking about leaving a child....Great Job

[Mary Hepler]

The poem's sad, sorry for the lose. Nice write and very emotioal.

[Stacy A. Foster]

I read somewhere once that losing an animal is just as painful, if not more in some cases, as losing a person we loved. This is because the love that they give is unconditional. I had a Grey Cockatiel for over 12 years. When she passed I was devastated (I even had her cremated!). I was with her longer than my first husband!

This was sweet, nice, and heartfelt and I understand it.

Stacy

[Cheryl Ann Welch-Davis]

They are faithful to a fault, love us no matter what, and are always happy to see us.

I am so sorry for your loss.

Wondefully written.
Well done.
Thanks for sharing.

[Marie]

Whether it was about a dog or a human child, very sad and touching piece. Great job!

[Richard McLin]

Okay, I have to admit, I didn't know this was about a dog, I don't know if I missed something in the poem, but I was stumped, but that didn't prevent me from enjoying this piece, because this is a truly wonderful poem. The emotion and heartache are very clear, and you displayed poetic skill here, and you displayed it perfectly. Kudos...

~Richard