Goodbye

I remember how it used to be
You were always there for me
with You I felt so safe
You were my hiding place 

until

it seemed to change in a day
I knew you weren’t the same

I walked into the room and found you there—

spinning ‘round
in your thoughts
that seemed to come from nowhere,
fighting with
all the dragons
that no one else could see 

Where did You go?
Why did you leave?
Where did You go?
Where could You be? 

I didn’t get to say goodbye

goodbye...

I never meant to scare You
but there was nothing I could do
so there grew a kind of distance
a strange and awkward dance 

when I’d come home, you’d be there
sitting sideways in your chair

I’d tiptoe in and there you’d be again—

spinning ‘round
in your thoughts
that seemed to come from nowhere,
fighting with
all the dragons
that no one else could see 

Where did You go?
Why did You leave?
Where did You go?
Where could You be? 

I never got to say goodbye 

goodbye

goodbye to lazy summer days
goodbye to bedtime lullabies
goodbye to chasing after fireflies;
goodbye to talks we never had
to building castles in the sand
goodbye to reaching up to grab your hand.

goodbye, goodbye

goodbye to days of playing chase
to being rescued from distress
goodbye to kisses on my tear-stained face;
goodbye to time we never shared
to running to you when I was scared
goodbye to saying, “Daddy, look at Me.” 

goodbye, goodbye, goodbye,
goodbye, goodbye, goodbye… 

Goodbye
So long
Farewell.