Gerald Stern: Waving Goodbye
As some of us move forward, chances are, there will be tough choices to be made where it is only one over the other. For those who are left behind to stay, the job of adjusting to the gaping hollowness in the daily grind without the usual staples is daunting.Looking over the now empty chairs, we begin to miss the familiarity of their presence:1. the quiet one who is ceaseless in his pursuit for art that speaks;2. the funny whose skill in quickly spotting humor lightens up tight situations;3. the critical, always questioning and contemplative of the rather precarious things;4. the youth who is eager to embrace the world.After goodbye, we cling to the happy memories made to make days easier and less harrowing. There is no assurance that we will make new memories again but in knowing that the world is small we remain hopeful.Waving GoodbyeBy Gerald SternI wanted to know what it was like before wehad voices and before we had bare fingers and before wehad minds to move us through our actionsand tears to help us over our feelings,so I drove my daughter through the snow to meet her friendand filled her car with suitcases and hugged heras an animal would, pressing my forehead against her,walking in circles, moaning, touching her cheek,and turned my head after them as an animal would,watching helplessly as they drove over the ruts,her smiling face and her small hand just visibleover the giant pillows and coat hangersas they made their turn into the empty highway.
**full text of Gerald Stern’s Waving Goodbye