I won’t say “Goodbye”.

You can’t make me.

The word is too strong,

it’s meaning too clear,

the emptiness implicit in it’s utterance too near.

 

I won’t say “Goodbye”.

I don’t want to.

I’ve done this before.

I know that it feels

like a door has been slammed on the wake of my heels.

 

I won’t say “Goodbye”.

But, you can.

I’ll hear what you say

as I walk away,

and you’ll hear my silence as a promise to stay.