It’s better to be the leaver than the left,
more green shoots of new growth,
remembering my wedding dress
hanging on my bedroom door
me departed into my new life
the emptiness of the left behind.

I haven’t had much experience
as the left behind
always being the one to leave
cutting all ties, getting in the car and gone
Trip-tik maps beside me on the seat
this the slant I choose to savor.

Now the young are flying off, winging
into new vistas and I find myself on the porch
staring out on an almost dead tree.  Just today
a hawk swept down into my yard, lingered
a few moments and then soared away.  I still
hear it call to me from the high trees.
A song is playing in my head, to breathe,
you must leave.