Leaving Poems | Examples

this old coat

bear sweet my coat and wear it best
          its arms from me around your chest
               don’t weigh my spirit dark and dead
     I’ll be e’er-woven ‘tween each thread

its bound’ries bind you deep the night
          those shimmered stars your only light
               so when you ache for cold’s reprieves
     my love waits warm within its sleeves

time might have brought a fade or stains
          but years will show that warmth remains
               left o’er from times I’d claimed it’s clutch
     when we’ve shared hugs or just a touch

you’ll know I’m there and haunt it still
          soft scents ‘just mine’ deep in its twill
               to knit your thoughts to our dear start
     like charms have knit you to my heart

our ‘goodbye’ words I’ll make my last
          but hold me midst this frock, and fast
               when mem’ries fail to shape my face
     saves sweet, this coat, our last …

embrace.





Copyright © 2025 Gregory Richard Barden

Autumn Lingers

autumn lingers unfinished
though cold drops november 
rain and waits undiminished
'til native summer sun remembers
what could unmake
when days full ache
bloom autumn colors
quick winter all borders
golds greens yellows 
reds purples browns
a rusted rainbow frowns
as leaves scoot over meadows
fallen from mountain forest
after fields have given harvest
a father of one teaches his son. 
chase catching leaves for fun
they twist turn swivel pirouette
lunge leap slide slice 'til earth is whet
while boy staggers with arms stretched 
missing while dad knows misdirect fetched
two and three leaves while son fustrated
cries to quit but egged on infuriated
at last by chance or by  experience
claps and traps one in victory dance
Copyright © Cornelius Brantley | Year Posted 2024

The Specter

The Specter

Your spent to long
Searching for fallen stars
Your moon slipped away

I hope your wishes were
Worth the price you paid

You failed the one 
Who needs you most

And now you must confront the ghost

Cross My Heart

I cross my heart and hope to die,
A childhood pact between you and I.
A sacred X, a secret sign,
Promising your heart would stay with mine.

We sealed our words with a silent grace,
A mirrored promise on each other's face.
One soul, two bodies, a perfect whole,
Bound by a truth that fed my soul.

But you broke the cross, you left the 'X' bare,
A gaping hole where you once were.
Left me to mend what you tore apart,
A shattered promise, a broken heart.

I cross my heart, but it's just a scar,
A ghost of a twin who traveled too far.
And I'm left behind, with everything to bear,
And a broken promise hanging in the air.

Fall Leaving

When autumn’s ardor starts to wane,
wind whips and wails with the chill of rain.

Old Man

Old Man

Old man asleep on the floor, does he dream of all his years from before.  When in his youth he ran wild, digging and being the guardian of the farm where nothing dated go near?  Or perhaps of escaping to only go to the pound, were they knew him by name, because of his frequent escapes he perfected to a tee. Graciously greeting him with hugs and treats, he was special to them on each one of his retreats. 

This old man brought many years of unconditional love and companionship for me, but the end of his days are drawing near.  I am grateful for each of those devoted years 18+ years along with great sadness when the end of his days are here. He's not just a dog but a part of me that will forever go on in my memory.

He sleeps more than usual because his body needs rest to prepare for his adventure he has next. I have no doubt his next adventure will be something he will look forward to, because of how great it will be. His adventure next will be no more old man but of youth and unwavering health in God's great hands.

Old Man

Old Man

Old man asleep on the floor, does he dream of all his years from before.  When in his youth he ran wild, digging and being the guardian of the farm where nothing dated go near?  Or perhaps of escaping to only go to the pound, were they knew him by name, because of his frequent escapes he perfected to a tee. Graciously greeting him with hugs and treats, he was special to them on each one of his retreats. 

This old man brought many years of unconditional love and companionship for me, but the end of his days are drawing near.  I am grateful for each of those devoted years 18+ years along with great sadness when the end of his days are here. He's not just a dog but a part of me that will forever go on in my memory.

He sleeps more than usual because his body needs rest to prepare for his adventure he has next. I have no doubt his next adventure will be something he will look forward to, because of how great it will be. His adventure next will be no more old man but of youth and unwavering health in God's great hands.

No Sadness Or Tears

You said you wanted out 
Of this marriage we are in 
You were packing your things 
And I’d never see you again 

I grabbed a beer and watched
As I sat in my reclining chair 
It did bother me you were leaving 
The truth is I no longer care

With all your arms could carry 
You loaded what belong to you 
You gave me your key then ring
Saying we’re over and through 

As I drank the last of my beer 
I watched you walk out the door 
There was no sadness or tears 
Because I didn’t love you anymore

Trace

Trace

You came and left like the wind

Sometimes I wonder if you were
Ever really here at all

But you were I can see your footprints
In the path of my existence

Love Wasn’t Enough

I wanted to love you with a fierceness
Making your heart and soul long for me 
You would yearn with desire from within 
But the truth is simply I lacked the ability 

The blame sits right here on my shoulders 
In no way does any blame fall at all on you 
You would’ve gave me the world if I had asked
I still couldn’t love you the way I wanted to 

I’d dwell on something filling me with rage
I’d yell and scream to make you feel small
The fight lasted until the rage disappeared 
You’d go in our room and quietly you’d bawl 

You never deserved how I made you feel
Yet through it all you still would love me 
You gave an incredible love I didn’t return 
Imagine if you could’ve set your love free

You gave a hundred percent to our marriage 
And i couldn’t give half of what you give away 
Your heart is so genuine you continued to love 
Asking god each night for help as you pray 

Finally you opened your eyes seeing the truth 
I’m too broken to fix no matter what you try 
It breaks your heart your love wasn’t enough 
And again you go to our room so you can cry

Itinerant

I’ve worked in oil fields,
facing danger for good money,
I’ve sailed on the crab boats
where the oceans churn and freeze.
I’ve drove the long-haul truck,
through the ice and much up to my knees,
I’ve dug that black gold coal
so the people have light and head.

I’ve worked the power lines
and been nearly fried, yes, it’s true,
I’m an itinerant,
cannot stop and I don’t want to.

I’ve dug a soldier’s grave,
so in peace they’ll lay restfully.
I’ve laid with lonely wives,
that’s why all your kids look like me.
I’ve been a handyman,
fixing your doorjamb and windows,
I’ve worked the carney scene,
on the rides helped all the kids go.

I’ve cut in the Maine woods,
as a logger should, what a view,
I’m an itinerant,
cannot stop and I don’t want to.

I’ve worked behind the bar,
slinging beers out to tired men,
even been a crossing guard,
so children go home safe again.
I’ve swept up city streets,
to see them filthy the next way,
I’ve worked the onion fields
in the hot sun outside L.A.

I’ve done so many things,
making my money someplace new,
I’m an itinerant,
couldn’t settle and don’t want to.

He Left

He can't wait to move out
since he's grown up- but the problem is
that he has no car and has no job,
he's wise enough to understand
that he cannot live as a freeloader
be forever dependent on his parents
he's a grown man not a little boy
problem is he has no car and has no job,
he must obtain these things himself
the question remains: "how?"
his days are restless and his nights are sleepless
itchy with impatience, where the balm to soothe?
He can't wait to move out and live a life of his own
problem is that he has no car and has no job,
opportunity rarely comes his way
eventually his decision is to sneak out the door
with his backpack filled with essential items.
He left the nest in the early morning hours...

When feelings war

By evening light of crimson 
Moonlight dabbled through the trees.
Formed shapes of dark and shadow climbed and crawled and followed me. 

Weary eyes did gaze on distance. 
Though views faded as minutes left.
The seat was waiting to comfort - it knew my walk too well.

Silence could be found though the dabbling water would not stay quiet.
It had seen its share of torment through the toils, sorrows, deaths and wars of many men.

Now though it let me listen to its melody under bright dots in the sky. Birds flew over on to yonder disappearing into the darkening blue of this birthing night.

Though life was clear all around me, its sounds, its senses, colours, wonders and reassuring news. It’s not a life when feelings war, it’s not a life without you.

Luminance for the Leaving

To open your heart
in this predatory world—
is to pour starlights 
into hands that may 
never intend to stay.

And if they do leave—
as some daemons do—
perhaps the glows you bestow
will illuminate their quiet violence
through every future
abandon. 


8.8.25

Why the Shadow Departed

Have you ever stood still—
noticing the sudden absence
of what once followed you everywhere?

We think we know the reason.
We stitch guesses into tidy shapes,
as if they could fill the hollow
left behind.
But truth is slippery—
most times,
we can’t hold it at all.

We are meant to lift each other,
not pile stones in the way
of someone else’s climb.

So—
gentleness can outlast anger.
A patient tone
travels farther than a shout.
Carry a lamp in open palms,
not judgment clenched in fists.

This was never a wage to earn—
only a space to offer,
and a gift that cannot be traded.

Perhaps the shadow withdrew
because the burden bent its back,
or because it needed
quiet hands
to piece together what had shattered.

And maybe—just maybe—
it will return,
changed by distance,
tempered by the places it’s walked.

Some still whisper in dim corners,
but the one who stepped away?
They speak now
where the light is full and warm.

• Short Leaving Poems
• Famous Leaving Poems
• Best Leaving Poems
• Read Leaving Poems
• Long Leaving Poems
• Leaving Quotes

Poems Related to Leaving

disappear, elope, emigrate, escape, flee, fly, go, leave behind, let go, migrate, move, quit, relinquish, retire, take a hike, take leave, take off, vamoose, vanish, walk out, withdraw,