A Midwestern Goodbye

They laugh about the
Midwestern goodbye –
the farewell at the couch
and the foyer
and the door
where we stand around and talk
until we have to say
goodbye
again.

You came for Thanksgiving
and stood by my couch
asking –
have we met before?
which was one of our first
goodbye’s.
You don’t know my name
or your sons’
or your sister’s
but some nights you play a
mean game of dominos
around the card table
with the ones who make you feel safe.

We will talk in the foyer
for as long as we can.

We will say
goodbye
and then keep on
keeping company.