FAREWELL

The girl stepped outside the door

That had carried her this far

And as she looked all around

She stood beside the car.

This was her grandma’s town

A place she had grown up

And now that Grandma was gone

She, too, now felt grown up.

 

Sixteen years old on yesterday

She asked for just one thing

To visit the old hometown

Where grandma used to sing.

To walk where she once did

Along the old dirt road

And watched as life continued

Lessening her load.

 

But she found no local store

Nor a place to eat

She walked a bit further

Then she took a seat.

Beside a quiet Hibbard’s Brook

She tried to smell the grass

Then dark came so early

She had to hurry fast.

 

Reaching for her backpack

She kissed the opened jar

She shook out the ashes

And watched from afar.

Grandma had returned

For her last & final rest

She said a prayer that ended

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.