A Bird's Song

He came by this morning, to say goodbye.

rounded the corner of my street, i'm sure, the very same way he had every day for the past two-or-so-weeks.

i sort of lost words, because what do you say?

"i may never see you again, but i'm sure glad i met you."

"you are one of the most interesting people i've ever met, you taught me so many things about the world, outside of my little fishbowled one."

"you smell like the best thing in the world."

"i hope i left some sort of good impression on you, like you did on me."

"maybe something really neat will happen with us one day, and i can tell people we met one summer when we were both seventeen."

i watched him walk down my sidewalk, and turn the corner.

then i said, "mom, isn't it weird that people can just come into your life? and then leave?" 

i think it is. 

[photo by me]

i loved when you'd tell me i was "so beautiful",
and i'd say "nu uh" and you'd say, "I think you are."

goodbye.  au revoir. arrivederci. vale. 

[for all the languages you know]