How do you say goodbye
to someone who made life better?
How do you say goodbye
to the person who taught you
life lessons in such ordinary ways?
How do you say goodbye
to the ornery person
who taught you to give a little and take a little?
How do you say goodbye
to the hard, manly man with a soft, squishy center,
who taught you about love?
How do you say goodbye
to the hardworking man,
who loved working with his hands and being outdoors?
How do you say goodbye to someone
who was always there, watching out for you?
How do you say goodbye
to a man who protected and helped you?
How do you say goodbye
to a person who loved you fiercely?
How do you say goodbye?
…by loving him and holding on to your memories with him.
~ Andra Coles, writer
~ photo by Hunt Han on Unsplash
