Goodbyes

By Wayland Raven

It seems that lately I have fielded conversation about death and distance. Death, physical death of people we have loved. Distance, of those who were part of our life, part of our breath and then gone to another place. Each is a mystery. The physical death is the most difficult to deal with, although distancing is something tenuous and not so definite.

For those of you who have lost friends and family, especially at this time of the year when the earth becomes fertile again, I send my blessings. I wish I had the magic words that would make things better, but I don’t. I just listen, ponder, love and take your sorrow into my heart.

Life is a circle, small circles, large circles, and each one coming back in one way or the other. We cannot control these things anymore than we can wade into a river and stops its course. We can only hope that the current ultimately takes us somewhere peaceful, where memory is our friend and hope is our companion.

Wayland Raven

O I can see the faces there - many ages, many colors-

as they gaze far away into the evening.

There are friends that I know and so many, many others,

and they’re eager for the journey to begin.

Some have come there with their loves, some have come alone;

they all embrace in the light and in the shadow.

And we say our farewells, with our arms around each other,

and you tell me I will see you again.

And you tell me I WILL see you again.

Well, I am happy for you then,

on your journey toward a new home,

but, when I wake, all that I know

is: you are gone.

And I can dream you in that place -

laughing, smiling, healthy, and strong,

but when I wake, all that I know

is: you are gone.

Some days, tears are all I have,

some days, anger and despair,

and sometimes, dreams are all I have

since you are gone.

You are gone.

So fly away, my love, on that violet ship of beauty,

fly away thought the night to the morning,

fly away, my love, on the silken, purple sails,

fly away through the darkness to the dawn.

Fly away into the night,

fly away into the stars,

fly away into the dawn,
to lovers’ arms.