EVERY TIME I LEAVE

Sarah Puyatier

I kiss you goodnight
and you don’t know:
Tomorrow I must go.

I kiss you goodnight
and you ask me: ‘When
will you come visit again?’

I hold back tears
of guilt, as I admit that
I don’t know.

I kiss you goodnight,
I tell you goodbye,
and you no longer ask.

You hold on tight,
just one last time
before the next last night.