Don’t forget to say goodbye.

When autumn leaves are flying by,

And skies are gray, and chilly winds

Collect debris from alleys blown,

Then what was shown did fade away

To leave what was, alone and bare,

And now the sky turns white in fear,

And now no sun to warm the sky!

Then don’t forget to say goodbye.

When tinny sounds fall hollow, flat

Upon your ear, summon that courage,

If you can, to stomach the rummage

The man on the telly is telling you,

That you can be better, that you can be 

New again with this blue pill,

This expensive cream worth every penny.

But look away and see the sky,

The hollow sheerity, the one great eye,

Seeing you clearly the one way that you are.

Then don’t forget to say goodbye.

But may I say, with sudden cheer,

That I will stay, to experience the clarity

Of the sky, and hear whatever it has to say,

Without having to like its message, to classify meaning

As pleasant or drear, but just to be

Right here, beneath it, 

To be involved familiarly with life,

Yet ready to die, at any time.

But have no fear.

I won’t forget to say goodbye.

-jenn