Why I Don't Say Goodbye

Uncomfortably blissful reunion's over
News exchanged, howdydos said,
Bombs dropped, and now as merry met
It's time to part.

First of the gang leaving the den,
Dropping a megaton quietly.
I'm getting married, she says,
And in the aftershock is cloaked,
A tiny fire cracker.

I'm moving to Japan permanently, another says.
The one who shredded the world drones on,
I'm probably moving to Philadelphia,
And my wedding's going to be in India.
You all will be invited, but...

The den mother coos the loudest,
Offering plattitudes and best wishes
Trying to hide in his cluckings, the sadness.

Quickly silenced are the previous prevailing
Topics of the day, GREs, MCATs, LSATs,
Life after college..

In the silent noise,
She says, "we'll all scatter apart after college."
I think, "forgive her, for she knows not what she says"
She's already in Japan, so I think..

So, in two sentences slipped in
Between cups of coffee and lemon morangue pies,
Shatters our dream that we shared in this very smoke filled place
Not so many years ago.

We'll all be together forever, we said,
We'll all live in NYC,
And watch our kids play together,
In that youthful naivete.

So much have we changed,
So busy we are in our lives,
No one noticed our dream die.

Well, not quite no one..
Den mother looks at the broken egg shells,
And crys silently.

Gone, gone just like that with few phrases.
Gone forever silently like the wind's whispers.

Foolish boy, I remember my mother saying,
Don't put your trust in friendship,
Strangers born they are, and strangers they'll die.
You might not have a choice,
But your family is always there.

Going away uncertain,
Not knowing when we'll see each other again,
We part with hugs and say,
We'll see each other soon again.

Uncomfortable silence fills the room,
And I say,
I don't want to say goodbye, so farewell,
It's too bad we all can't walk off,
Arm in arm to the setting sun.

Soon I'll be one and twenty,
And all I can think of is A. E. Houseman.

Farewell, but not goodbye, I whisper,
As one by one all gets into their cars,
And slam their doors shut.