I Say Good-Bye

I say good-bye to things of the past, To things I thought would always last. I say good-bye to the ashes of home, Its halls no more for me to roam. I say good-bye to the kitchen table, where at dinner, we all sat, And to the living room, where everyone would sit and chat. I say good-bye to the bedroom, where through many storms I sat, And listened to the rain on the roof going pitter-pat, pitter-pat, pitter-pat. I say good-bye as I stand and look, And realize what the good Lord took. I say good-bye to the things of old, And into prayer I go, in my lap, my hands I fold. I say good-bye to the things I'd lost, And realize the sacrifice was worth the cost. I say good-bye to what I see, And thank God I've still got my family. I say good-bye and I feel liable, That the only material survivor was the Hoy Bible. I say good-bye to the bed, where at night I lay, And sometimes take a nap during the day. I say good-bye to the freedom I loved, The freedom, I'd known. I say good-bye to the freedom that I harbored, The freedom that, over the years, had grown. I say good-bye to the freedom I had known, To the freedom I had thought was my own. I say good-bye to the things of old, To see them no more, or so I'm told. I say good-bye to the memories so grand, Taken from me by God's own hand. I say good-bye to things so beloved, so sweet, Only the building process, we must repeat. I say good-bye, and realize there is soil to turn and fields to reap, There's so much to do, I have but little time to sit and weep. I say good-bye, and though I'm sad, I know there'll be no other. I say good-bye and give you the culprit, or so I hear, He was my very own, dear brother. 9-16-2004