How Do You Say Goodbye? Poem by Jim Yerman

She was just a woman in our neighborhood…she did what a neighbor does
She was not related to us…yet we would have sworn she was…

And although we're sure it wasn't part of her plan…her goal…her objective…her aim
She played a part in shaping the people we became.

We all grew up and moved away…the old neighborhood didn't last…
Still, we had a chance once we were grown to revitalize our past…

We met again…all of us older…her life now months from the end…
where our old feelings transformed us from old neighbors to old friends.

That often happens as we grow older…as our hair turns a shade of grey
the age difference no longer matters…the years between us fade away.

But now it was time to say goodbye…she was taking her last bow
and the three of us got together and began to wonder how…

How do we show her what she meant to us…How do we let her know….
How lucky we were to have her in our lives…so many years ago.

She was sleeping.
Could she hear us?
Should we even try?
How do we tell her how we feel?
How do we say goodbye?

The nurse said, "Just talk to her…have a little chat.
If she can't hear you…no harm done…but if she can…Imagine that! "

So we sat down at her bedside…we gave her hand a squeeze
and we shared old times, old stories, old laughter…old memories…

As we were lost in our reveries of a different time…a different place…
the nurse quietly pointed at our friend…who had a smile on her face…

And we thought what better ending could we give her
as her spirit soars up to the sky…
old friends together sharing memories...
That's how you say goodbye!