For such a strong presence
one that has held together the existence
of the present day, to suddenly get up
vanish to fly right into the sunset
and away from each of the persevering
eyes that have kept them in their sights
for so long

For such a presence to leave, naturally
is an upset, an uproar to be more precise
the glue's creep has finally cracked
the heirloom family tree has been sawed down
boiling water left burning for too long
is now nothing but raw flame and distorted copper

The doorway left tilted and without a shim
doesn't look down on the glue that gave it the opportunity
to be upright in the first place
nor does the stump left for rot on the front lawn
neither does the pot point a blackened finger
at the stove for its scorch marks and discoloration

But this presence is different, for it is a human presence
it equates to love and happiness
who are we to project our own discrepancies
onto that presence
to take one of our own, and make it like we own one
all at the same time, losing sight to what that
presence actually taught us
that action is life and to do is to live

Like ink fading on a page, the physicality is gone
but the words retain their meaning
each step will be taken parallel to each other
and will always be a step forward
even if they are thousands of miles apart
they will be taken as deliberately as ever,
as if they were to heel to heel

We should revel in this, laugh in this
cry in this, but at the end of the day have pride in this
for this is setting an example
that presence is our family, it is our friends
it is life and love, it is great
it is strong as its ever been

So take pride in this severance because
no distance between you and them has changed
keep stepping right along side them
until you mark out your own path
because both paths inevitably lead back,
closer and closer into their arms
until one realizes that that presence
never left us in the first place