Not Easy To Say Bye Poem by Job Ombati

It's not easy
to say bye—
for a day,
or two,
or perhaps...
I'll come back next month,
or till we meet again.
Easy—it isn't.

It's not easy
to look into your loved ones' eyes
and say goodbye,
even for a day.
Return looks feel like forever,
making the loving eye moist.

It's not easy
to lie on a sickbed,
and without a care,
give in
to eternal sleep.
To feel the tongue grow heavy,
wishing to say just one last word—
as all loving eyes rest on you.
You can read the concealed fear,
and wish to reassure: it will be okay.
But the tongue is heavy to speak.

Then—
a bye must be.
(24, April 2023 8: 09 pm - Nairobi)