Arrivals and Departures

Children, coming and going--

Before they step from the train

they're off--their faces fading

behind green-tinted panes.


They spread out their arms, glide earthwards--

climb back into the sun.

The car backs down the driveway

up which it has just come.


The joy of their comings hurts me

with the ache of their vanishings.

Like birds they drop from the treetops--

then are off, in a flutter of wings.


There are oak trees deep in the forest

who stretch out bare arms all day,

knowing whatever will land and perch there

will soon fly away--


and that all these comings and goings

have their secret ends somewhere--

where birds root down like oak trees--

where oak trees fly through the air.


Copyright 2010-2012 Paul Petrie