How many kinds of farewells have you experienced?
Or have you ever had to say goodbye to someone you were deeply, sincerely connected to?
Let me tell you about a different kind of farewell.
Not to a country, not to a new job, not even to another city—
But a farewell to the world.
The uncle is about to go.
His final moments in this life have come,
And maybe his children, grandchildren, family—have gathered from thousands of kilometers away,
Just for one last goodbye…
Ah… my heart.
I’m in a deeply layered emotional state right now.
What should one feel? What should one think?
Are the uncle’s feelings stronger,
Or those of the ones he will leave behind?
Whose heart should we try to understand more?
As the poet says,
“My heart is a land of farewells” —
perhaps this is exactly what it means.
“Goodbye, world.
Goodbye, my children.
Goodbye, my beloved wife,”
maybe that’s what he means to say.
Maybe it’s the hope:
“Perhaps, somewhere in the eternal realm, we’ll meet again.”
The uncle’s farewell kisses,
Filled with emotion, are conveyed to his wife, Aunt H.,
Who lies in another ICU on the other side of the city.
Yes, the uncle is preparing his final goodbye to the world
From his own hospital bed,
In another intensive care unit.
And now…
The rush begins to deliver his ever-deepening goodbyes
To those who hold them in their hearts…
13/01/2020
