Is this what it felt like?
To see it blooming
To see it growing
Love.

Except this time
It is not I
It is not you
Falling.

I see
The smiles, constant
The warmth, sincere
Beautiful.

But
It is not I
It is not you
Theirs.

And it hurts.

I’m sending you off
My dear
To beyond the sea

A place where
I have long have not been
It is a much different place now

Unknown…

My dear
I know you are strong, intelligent
And resourceful

But above all, I trust you

Be the person I raised you to be
Be the person I know you can be
Be all my hopes and dreams

Be safe…

As you set off, beyond the sea

See the forest for the trees
I told myself
You’ve been staring at the same one
All your life

Out of all the trees you could see
You had to see this one
And only this one

For all the lush green pines
The strong old oaks
The verdant maples
You see this… thing

And it ruins
It sours
It burns
Everything good

See the forest for the trees
Please
And maybe then…

Maybe you’ll be alright

I live on the precipice
Leaning in over the edge
And I see

All the wonder
All the splendor
That we will achieve

But it is not my place to take us there
To where our potential lies
To undergo the journey

No

I am relegated
Bound by time
To be an observer

Never has it been so ruinous to be alive now
I was not the never-was
I was the never-could

Oh it is sad
To be happy
To celebrate
Without you

The smiles
The laughter
The merriment
Cannot feel as true as they should

But perhaps the worst is
Despite my grayness
Despite the sorrow
It could be worse

For you