Hellos and Goodbyes

Hellos and goodbyes
They breeze endlessly
through air terminal after air terminal
around the world
never stopping for breath
cleverly evading any grasp

Laughing,
they taunt my frailty
my heart
so fragile and worn
from infinite departures

My family
my friends
my love
dancing shadows
in flickering firelight
I touch only
cold night air
and then cry my tears.

(On Steve's departure to England, Oct. 1, 1998)