Comings and Goings

When you came to us, you bore

 the unseen scars of hidden wars

and untold truths and spoken lies. 

So innocent with such ancient eyes. 

  A lost boy, starved of love, of respect 

from self and for self.

But you grew...by millimeters and 

 sometimes by miles...

yet soundless, but for furtive glances

that shouted -

 unable to believe the gift before you -

The gift of acceptance.

Tracing line upon line of feather-light touch

 you quietly soaked in never-before 

yet simple joys.  The power of choice -

the freedom of no-ulterior-motives. 

  Yet your eyes still distant, unable to 

express the growing gratitude within, 

powerless to stop the million voices

 of the past screaming you 

were not worthy - 

 Yet here you were: belonging...  

a little less lost.  Perhaps even a little bit

found.

And now - suddenly - you are going.  

All around you are

 the tears and sadness of a thousand

what ifs and if onlys.  Only you remain

in quiet tearless pain, mixed grief and joy 

 over all that might have been and 

all that is coming

 while you are going. You leave behind

a host of memories which bring

fused laughter and tears - yet you, still silent

 and stoic, barely a flicker behind your eyes

belying your emotion, 

feel more than anyone the word 

Goodbye. 

Family is that person or people one chooses 

 where one feels safe and welcomed. There need 

not be blood ties; often blood ties mean 

abuse, criticism, bullying.  

You can choose who is family.  This you have come

to understand.

As you are going, we know that someday 

you will be coming back.  

For you, though you are loath to speak the words, 

 this, where you are loved,

where you are accepted,

where you are welcome,

 is "home."

Brandon on 16 July 2011

Our message to him and his to us
when we said goodbye