{ A. K. Ramanujan: Instead of a Farewell. }

[delga]

Instead of a Farewell.

To meet and say farewell
to this part of me
that turns and returns
with a different partner
in a square dance,
meeting before I begin to see
seeing after I have done
with meeting,
squaring at last in a glimpse
the ancient circle
of you and me:

how can I say farewell
when farewells are made
only for people who stay
and only for people
who go away?

By A. K. Ramanujan.