Good-bye to ancient cityscapes
lost in today’s burdens.

Good-bye endless foundations,
honeymoon balloons.

Good-bye philosophers asleep
in smoke-filled rooms.

Good-bye to fancy graveyards,
their leaves of grass.

Good-bye native sweethearts
on the sunrise slope.

Good-bye to soldiers who sing
collected war-songs.

Good-bye crescent evenings,
bandy-legged men.

Good-bye Dewey decimals —
just good-bye to you.

Good-bye honey, guilt’s movin’
on, like bygone days.

Mother earth waves good-bye
to Mister Chips et al.

We’ll reread words written well
before our good-byes.

Thus, with sentient emotion,
here is my good-bye —

This poet’s hip-hip-hurrah —
wink-wink, and smile.

Goodbye lovelies: like all good
poet-citizens, write on.

. . . . .

Susan Powers Bourne
30 april 2017