That Last Goodbye

The ones we’ve loved
never leave us
they haunt our dreaming
waking sleeping
taunt our needing
to hold their hand

The ones we’ve loved
unexpected visit
at the dinner table
when laughing with friends
who ask the stillness,
“are you alright?”

The ones we’ve loved
won’t come back
nor return back
that part of us that waits
long after the appointed time
has passed

The ones we’ve loved
are cruel and heartless
always hurting
as we wander empty
wanting always wanting
that last goodbye.