Goodbyes

Goodbyes
Aren’t just
When someone passes away.
Goodbyes aren’t only
When you’re leaving the house. 

It’s not just goodbye 
To your mom or your dad.
It’s not leaving the house
And yelling out the door.

It’s more than just
A wave at the airport
As you watch someone
Board the plane.

It’s parting with people
Who travelled 
A journey with you.
It’s seeing them leave
And knowing this is the line. 

Saying goodbye
Is being told some will stay
And others will go.
It’s the knowledge 
That not everyone will be there.

It’s seeing the tears
In the eyes of others
As you wave 
And hug them tight.

It’s knowing you can’t
Hand things over to them.
No more favors to ask,
Because it’s only you.

No phone calls to make
Because they won’t be there.
Being asked to do something,
And you can’t skip out.

It’s watching the room
That once held them all
Slowly empty out
Until it’s just four.

It’s adjusting to 
The lack of noise
And no longer saying
Everyone’s late.
It’s just you four. 

It started off slow,
Goodbye to three.
We started as twelve
And now it’s just four. 

It’s goodbye
To the ‘morning colleagues’
That comes 
Everyday at eight.

It’s farewell
To the ‘yes booyyy’
When there’s
Laughter in the air.

Bye bye 
To ‘what time did I leave?’
Whenever he comes in, 
Signing by another name. 

Gone is the 
‘Come on guys’
Every time
We talk.

‘Never true’
Left a while ago,
With latecomer ‘that’s crazy’
Not long after.

‘Morning ladies’
Will no longer be heard 
By the sweet voice
In which she speaks.

With everyone gone
We realize now
That goodbyes 
Are more than what we thought.

It’s parting with people
Who always made your day.
It’s growing
Without the ones we wanted to stay.

It’s making connections
That are forced apart
Because life has decided
They should take them away.

It’s building connections
And putting in effort
To maintain it,
Fearing the day
It might be gone forever.

Goodbye is just a word,
But it holds so much meaning.
It’s farewell,
With the hope 
Of having the paths cross again.

Copyright © Micheala Ruth September | Year Posted 2023

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