Losing you was desperate
That day you stepped through
The departure gate
Forty years ago
One last view
Like a coffin dropping
Into the hollow dais
Or rolling along
Hidden by the curtains
Beyond sight of the mourners
In the crematorium chapel
Final farewell from this man
Never to see your smile again
Your hair of jet
Such eyes set deep with hope
For a future we would not share
Though we dared stay in touch
Just for a while
By transatlantic trunk call
Microseconds delay on the line
Seemed like hours
As I waited for your words
To return to me across the ocean
Worse still the pain
Of letters few and
Far between
Weeks await a reply
Never knowing which letter would be
The last
I don't recall which one it was
But I dreamt so many times
Of seeing you again
On the bus or around town
We'd say hi
I'd ask how's a girl
You wouldn't reply
Only then did I realise
It wasn't you
I was talking to
Just a letter with your voice
Imagined
Or the telephone call
When your words came
Delayed by
Mere microseconds
Or was it
Forever
About the Creator
Raymond G. Taylor
Author living in Kent, England. Writer of short stories and poems in a wide range of genres, forms and styles. A non-fiction writer for 40+ years. Subjects include art, history, science, business, law, and the human condition.
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Where's the Glory?
In breaking news, rehabilitated Republican Senator Johnnie Johnson (Pronouns: HE, HIM, HIS) called a press conference from the Men’s room of the New Orleans Louis Armstrong International Airport, Concourse B, across from the Ignatius Reilly’s Lucky Dog stand. The Senator had just returned from a sexual reorientation rehabilitation program in Memphis, TN after being publically disgraced at a Buckee’s Truckstop restroom soliciting sex from an undercover cop three months ago. He is a founding member of the Reformed Christians for Christ, a conservative, pro-family and ex-gay advocacy group. In the spirit of being reborn, Senator Johnson invited reporters to marvel at his plans for a major remodeling of airport bathrooms.
By Cathy Schieffelin5 days ago in Humor
Comments (6)
What a way of saying to goodbye to someone special.
This was so heartbreaking. Not easy at all to be in this situation. Sending you lots of love and hugs ❤️
This is stunning elegy, Ray, filled grace and hope to the bitter end! I’m sorry for the loss that inspired this beautiful poem!
That certainly kept me guessing to the end until I saw “sad poetry” tag. Sorry for your loss, Raymond, literal or just to a long distance.
I love the sad ambiguity in these words
Man, that tugged at my heart!