Good Bye, I Love You, Foreve

You don’t need anyone

to help you look in the mirror.

You’re tall enough now hon’

to stand up on your own two feet.

I can’t brush back your hair.

I can’t help you wash your face.

I can’t always be right there

when things don’t look quite right.

I heard some folks the other day

say you were trying to bring me back

to help you clean your brain.

So now I’ll have to run away;

I’ll have to hop another track

‘cause I’ll make you insane.

Saw you flying th’other day,

soaring skyward in the air,

cool currents blowing you away,

while sunlight warmed your outstretched wings.

I never taught you to fly.

I just let you grow your feathers out

till you were brave enough to try.

Then I’d pick you up when you hit the ground.

But I hear your coming back to me,

hoping to have your feathers clipped,

to teach you what you already know.

So I have to force you to be free

no matter how your heart is ripped

because I can’t help you grow.

I want you to take what I have to give

But you’ve taken it and I’ve no more

Now it is time for us to live

With memories of each other.

You’ve taught me to love another way

A lesson not easy to learn

But useful for another day

When it’s a lesson I’ll have to teach

I’ve learned my tough lesson

And you’ve learned yours

Or maybe we figured it out together

Whichever way we’re done with this session

And it’s waste to try for more

So goodbye, I love you, forever.

Benjamin Cline

3/25/04