On The Pain Of Walking Out Poem by Vihanga Perera

One June I walked out that door
Thinking that that was it; that
I would not return there again —
And as I walked down through the
Shadow of trees I had already hardened myself

Not to think of what may well as pain.

One June, as I walked out, I
Forget whether my thoughts ran back
To you. Maybe they did — that is
How I, at least remember that walk — but,
The heavy-hearted head more than what I felt not knew.

It was as if limping through ruins
Of a town you once skated through.

That was that June; and since,
I have been back. Many times
And to breath receptive of life, I have returned.
But, that one downward walk — I recall the stillness of the air
And the afternoon sunlight sifting through leaves
That watched me pretending that I hardly care.

So, whenever I return there, since, my one home,
I am reminded what life is, upon the
Pain of walking out. That life, perhaps,
Is larger than what we, at a moment, may feel,
But as to where life is not to have much doubt.