The sun has said goodnight
It seems such a long way
for that tiny tear to fall
down that small face
pressed tight against
a frosted window pane
She bends to kneel down
to pray beside her bed
And waits for words but
slides to the floor instead
Her hands still folded
around an old faded photo
Wrapped in the frail arms
of her own sorrow
It won’t matter how
old this little girl will grow
Because every now and then
almost always at night
It creeps right back up again
and her dream dies
just a little more each time
It still aches just the same
No words to say –
No verse to write –
The pain, that fear
doesn’t ever change
When she hears
someone say goodbye
And the sun has said goodnight
Gretchen Leary 2013
For some added emotional inspiration, I listened to the song “Here Comes Goodbye” by Rascal Flatts although this subject hardly needs any added intensity for me. The word “goodbye” still haunts me. This poem is not based on a single memory- more like a compilation of many woven together. I wanted to capture what sorrow feels like to me.
Gretchen Leary (McIntire) 
Love the opening refraining line ~ The part of the dream dying just a little more each time is poignant ~ The aches are just the same, after all this time ~ Enjoyed this one Gretchen ~
Thank-you Grace. I tried to get that gut wrenching feeling in those words. Not that I actually wish it on anyone but…
I could really feel and see this poem, quite beautiful even in such sorrow.
i think you captured it well gretchen..very moving..and felt..
Thank-you Claudia
Gretchen, what a moving poem. You also made me realize that I never, ever say “Goodbye,” either. It’s always ‘see you later’ or ‘bye’ or ‘peace.’ Until I read this, I didn’t remember that I get tears in my eyes when I hear “goodbye.” Perhaps it’s because I heard it said in anger so often when I was a child.
Love, Amy
Yes, saying goodbye is one of the hardest things I think I could ever tell someone. It has such a nasty after-taste.