THE PARTING

THE PARTING



WHAT CAN WE SAY AT PARTING
THAT WE FEEL PAIN AT UPROOTING

WE ARE NOT LIKE NURSERY PLANTS
GROWN ESPECIALLY FOR SELLING AND SENDING

NO WE HAVE GROWN LIKE FOREST TREES
ALL OUR ROOTS INTERWOVEN
 IN THE PULLING OUT
SOME OF US REMAIN AND SOME OF YOU IS TAKEN

THERE IS NO EASY LEAVING

WHAT SHALL WE USE OF WORDS
TO TELL OF EMPTINESS

WHAT SHALL WE SAY OF PAIN
WHY NOT REMAIN

BUT THERE ARE OTHER TRUMPETS CALLING
OTHER LOVES AND LOYALTIES

OTHER NEEDS

THE FOREST FLOOR IS NEVER THE SAME
WHEN ONE OF THE TREES COMES DOWN

THE SUN REACHES DOWN AND SOME THINGS GROW
 OTHERS WITHER

IT IS NEVER QUITE THE SAME

SO SHALL IT BE WITH US

SO WHAT SHALL WE SAY AT PARTING
BUT THE EXTENDING OF THE HAND IN A FIRM EMBRACE

THEN SLOWLY

RELUCTANTLY

LETTING GO

Frank A Vollmer