The Impossible Goodbye

a poem

The Impossible Goodbye

My daughter was fourteen when she went to a city neither of us knew. 

Flying two thousand miles from home for a summer of ballet classes. 

How? I wondered. A child, alone in a jungle. Was this right? 

So, I accompanied her on the journey, though I knew I couldn’t stay.

We found her new home, then walked down State Street for supplies. 

Shampoo, soap, snacks…time was slipping away. 

Then we were at the check-out, and there was nothing left to do 

but pay, walk back, and say goodbye. 

Three simple tasks, I couldn’t finish. 

I paid, then choked out, 

'havefunyouknowthewaybackiloveyou' before walking away, 

leaving my daughter at a Target in Chicago.