Our Long Goodbyes

So long to countless long stem red roses, blue irises, star gazer lilies, lavender orchids and yellow tulips, and cleaning up petals days after they’re given…

Goodbye to months that added up to years at a time away in foreign countries at war, with moist eyes -worried for one another…

Our last sunset we saw together, do you remember it? No, I’m afraid I don’t either…. so sad we didn't give that missed moment a fitting send off, one last goodbye kiss…

You can keep every “I love you”, “I miss you”, “Love Always,”, “Love Forever,” “I’m thinking of you” and “I’m so sorry…” I meant every one of them…

We moved too quickly and freely through many of the good times, figuring a period would come at some point where we’d pause to enjoy the sweet scent of a rose or two...

I hate to say goodbye to those nights –oooh, we know each other so well…

And turn my back on those pet names we had for one another, I believe they’re call “terms of endearment”, I won’t say, those are ours to be lost forever…

How I will miss the laughs, the looks we shared, the way your head fit in my chest when I held you…

The walks we took, the songs we listened to, the plans we made, those didn’t quite fit in the box I packed,

I guess its farewell to being there for each other in old age –“…my bride of 53 years” …well, not quite…

Can we still give advice to youngsters on relationship longevity? I suppose we could, I guess there are still lessons to be taught from a point of failure, 

but you know…..

I still….
You know I’ll always….
What will I do….
Maybe we don’t…..
No, no time for that now, this brief moment we use to smell those roses; for quite soon our goodbye will be over

Written in Afghanistan -1 AUG 2013
Copyright © | Year Posted 2013

Poem

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Thomas Avatar
August 28, 2013 at 4:21 PM
Wow a deep heartfelt write M.C....I cant tease you on this one:( as my eyes welled a bit in the what if 's ....very touching & sentimental, thankyou for sharing, my friend<3 cherie
Rain Avatar
August 7, 2013 at 1:45 PM
Again ..this is amazing , and I know it is deep because you are enlisted , Thank-you as well for serving our Country , the Goodbyes, the loss of a person , the long war we forget we are depending on Our Troops every day . This needs to be my next poem .
Mc Mills-Cooper Avatar
August 12, 2013 at 1:11 PM
So sorry I missed your comment here Yvette, thank you so very much. And no thanks needed for serving oh and how dare you young lady...I'm not enlisted anymore I'm an officer! LOL! I'm messing with you, I am an officer, but I knew what you meant -it's all love... MC
Brewer Avatar
August 6, 2013 at 12:35 AM
OMG,you've done it to me again,i'm tearing up here,I'll have to come back to this one xxx fabulous
Mc Mills-Cooper Avatar
August 6, 2013 at 5:08 AM
Thanks Jenny, I didn't know my poems would cause such emotion...very overwhelming. I'm both very happy and humbled by your response. MC
Lamoureux Avatar
August 5, 2013 at 7:59 PM
I would send this one to her, wether you are together or not this will be important to her.
Mc Mills-Cooper Avatar
August 6, 2013 at 5:06 AM
Oh Rick, you old romantic you...LOL! MC
Ellison Avatar
August 5, 2013 at 7:29 PM
Exceptional my dear friend... kudos! Jack
Mc Mills-Cooper Avatar
August 5, 2013 at 7:54 PM
Well sir, I glad you enjoyed it! I'll have to read some of your work Jack, I hear good things...! MC
Lamoureux Avatar
August 5, 2013 at 4:13 PM
This is the best love letter/ poem I have read from you.Outstanding!
Mc Mills-Cooper Avatar
August 5, 2013 at 7:53 PM
Thanks Rick, you made me hit near rock bottom.. thanks a lot! LOL! No like we discussed, I can go other places, I just have to make myself -thanks again! MC
Dietrich Avatar
August 5, 2013 at 3:34 PM
such a sad one this is. you seem too young in your picture for this to be a poem about you. Is it??? I really enjoyed the read.
Mc Mills-Cooper Avatar
August 5, 2013 at 7:51 PM
Well first off thanks, I'm glad I look too young LOL! Is it about me...well I'll leave that up to your imagination :) I'm glad you enjoyed it though. PS I'll fill you in on the details of how I came up with it , backstage pass Andrea...? ;) MC
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