<p><b><i> Leaving</i></b></p> <p><i></i></p> <p><i> How can I bear to leave this place,</i></p> <p><i> take the next boat out into the harbor,</i></p> <p><i> pass the buoy, toss</i></p> <p><i> a penny into the water for a return?</i></p> <p><i></i></p> <p><i> How can I bear leaving after 39 years —</i></p> <p><i> built my own house, planted my garden,</i></p> <p><i> tall-trees design, skylight to watch the evening sky,</i></p> <p><i> see the night flight plane lights</i></p> <p><i> blinking their way across the sea.</i></p> <p><i></i></p>
Leaving
How can I bear to leave this place,
take the next boat out into the harbor,
pass the buoy, toss
a penny into the water for a return?
How can I bear leaving after 39 years —
built my own house, planted my garden,
tall-trees design, skylight to watch the evening sky,
see the night flight plane lights
blinking their way across the sea.
But I must leave after 39 years,
so many reasons.
The only words that make sense are:
“I shall return.”
— Ruth Twichell Cochrane
May 7, 2008
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