For Helene

"Despedida"
Spanish for send-off, leave-taking
This word,
It shouldn't have a place
in the lives of those who love, I thought
But it does.
C'est la vie
French, it happens,
"Life."


Walking out
The door for a better one
One with quieter hinges
Or noisier screws
Or, maybe it's those
Who open the knobs
Welcoming us
with greener grass
Or bidding us, "Come in, 
You are safe here.",
Who make us
Pack our bags
Travel light or carry
Our entire history
Or make us stay
Where we are.

Who will ever know
The truth of
One's renouncing
for another soul's searching?
And those who are
Left behind,
Are they really left
behind?
Or are they condemned
as well to their
Own farewells?

Sigh.

A thousand ways to say
goodbye but not enough
words for pain
Of parting, of change
So really,
How many miles do we have to travel, 
What places do we need to go,
How many goodbyes do we have to utter
Before we finally
Find home?

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