The Long Goodbye
The Long Goodbye
By Edmund Siejka
We were on the corner
Of Union Square
Not touching
Not speaking
Just staring at each other
Me, in complete disbelief
You, looking past me
Annoyed shoppers
Quickly brushing past us.
And then you walked away
All I could do was
Try to follow you
Until you disappeared into the crowd.
Impulsively, I once went past
Where you lived
Crossing the street
I saw a light in your window
And made out
Two shadows sitting at a table
Then I knew
It was time
For me to walk away.
After all these years
Even though I can’t see you
I still think of you
Even though I can’t speak to you
I still hear you.
Sometimes when I lay in bed
The window opened
An errant breeze
Brings in a wonderful scent
Reminding me of the flowers
Lined up in front
Of the Korean grocery store
We used to go to.
It’s then I see you
Standing in front of me
Reaching out
I can almost touch you
I wouldn’t want it any differently
Then when you were with me
Those were the best of all my days.
|