Thursday, November 22, 2012

There Is No Word For Goodbye

Do you remember the first time you lost someone? Living means losing the people you love sometimes. 
There's no way around it. 

I hope when you read this poem, written by an Alaskan woman and gratefully shared with me by a friend and writer, you will never forget it. I hope it will bring you comfort in the times when you must let go and in the times, like today, when you have the chance to say thank you for the precious people who grace your life.  

Happy American Thanksgiving, with love
kj 


THERE IS NO WORD FOR GOODBYE
by Mary Tall Mountain

Sokoya, I said, looking through
the net of wrinkles into
wise black pools
of her eyes.

What do you say in Athabascan
when you leave each other?
What is the word
for goodbye?

A shade of feeling rippled
the wind-tanned skiin.
Ah, nothng, she said,
watching the river flash.

She looked at me close.
We just say, Tiaa. That means
See you.
We never leave each other.
When does your mouth
say goodbye to your heart?

She touched me light
as a bluebell.
You forget when you leave us,
You’re so small then.
We don’t use that word.

We always think you’re coming back, 
but if you don’t, we’ll see you someplace else.
You understand.
There is no word for goodby

35 comments:

  1. That is beautiful Kj

    Happy Turkey Day to you:-D

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  2. Happy Thanksgiving, kj. Do hope Chase is improving.

    Bear is gone for the winter. Please take care.

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    1. Gone for the winter? If so, tuck in cozy, my friend

      Chase is doing better: new meds, hopeful hearts

      Love
      kj

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  3. Happy Thanksgiving KJ (Big HUGE hug!) I've always liked "see you" because it says everything about how hard partings are without actually saying how hard they are. Ha! Language is funny that way.

    I read your popcorn stuffed turkey recipe and remembered how I laughed out loud when I read it from your previous post. Funny that I feel like we've been friends a loooonnng time when actually it ain't so long really. I love you KJ, I am glad we're friends. See you xx Jos

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    1. Aw jos, I have loved you for all those years :-)

      I hope we may toast cocoa together at some point! You are very wonderful

      Love from your travelin buddy
      Xo
      kj

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  4. i like having no word for goodbye...smiles...happy thanksgiving...peace to you today...

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  5. lovely. say, what tree is that in the header. recently i found some leaves like that on the ground in Keene and picked them up they are so lovely but i have no diea what tree it is. happy thanksgiving

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    1. Suki, I should be able to tell you but I can't . I will find out

      I hope you day is good, suki

      Blessings always
      Love
      kj

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  6. Happy TG to you and JB and dear Chase and Emily and your Mom and your cute grands. xxxx

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    1. Thank you dear jos. I'm singing while I bake and baste

      Love
      kj

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    2. Aaaargh! You know I mean joss!

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  7. Kj, This is lovely. I have been trying to say goodbye to my mother for the last 2 1/2 months, I can't seem to do it, maybe this is why.
    Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, I hope everyone is feeling better.
    xoxo

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    1. Yes Annie, I think that too. Maybe it's not even about goodbye. X

      Love love
      kj

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  8. Ahhhhh, honey, YES. I loved this. I don't believe in good-byes either. Faretheewell is the word I turn to.

    Sending love, love, love to you and J.

    S and J

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    1. Sharon honey, I was hoping you'd see that stuffing recipe. We are both bad, even as we uphold our hard earned classiness :-)

      Hello Jeff too

      Love love
      kj

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  9. Perfect for right now. I'm about to lose someone for a while. Not sure how long but I will not be saying goodbye. Happy Thanksgiving my darling friend.

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    1. Hells, thank you much. It's a nice day today. Turkey in the oven, applie pie still warm

      So there will be a break...somehow I think maybe not :-)

      Love love
      kj

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  10. Replies
    1. Announcement : I most certainly love you too , forever more

      Sincerely yours
      ms kj

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  11. That's a wonderful poem and I truly believe there is no good bye .

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    1. Do you, Mim? I can't say that. Sometimes it is so final . I do know there is never goodbye to my memories, and I wonder if that is as 'real' as the physical reality...

      Love
      kj

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  12. hope your tday was a good (and peaceful one). so happy to read that chase is stable at the very least. sending love to you and jb and thanks for posting this poem - it is a lovely read and appropriate for a time period in which we remember to give thanks. xoxo

    p.s. the popcorn stuffing recipe got a huge laugh :))

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    1. Amanda, chase is on his third day of being happy and well again. I want that so much for him

      I hope you are ready for a warm holiday season xo

      Love
      kj

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  13. kj,
    This is very beautiful, as well as comforting.
    Brenda

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    1. Brenda, I find it extremely comforting

      Love
      kj

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  14. I love this poem. Like Annie, I've been trying to say goodbye to my mother, who has ever advancing dementia. I miss her so much already even though I can still touch her and see her beautiful smile. But I have already lost the woman who raised me and has loved me more than words can express. I'll try hard to remember that there is no word for goodbye and I'll say Tiaa when I can no longer have her physically with me and I'll look for her someplace else one day.

    Love from Diane in North Carolina

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  15. Hi Diane, thank you very much for your comment. My Mother also is not the same woman who raised me, but her smile and wit is still vibrant and she is always so glad to see me.

    I think the people we love live within us forever . I hope you have comfort knowing that xo
    Please come back here any time

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  16. Wow so beautiful!!!!
    Going to send this to Goedele :)
    ♥M

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    1. I'm so glad you like this, Marianne. I feel the same way xoxo

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  17. I am in tears. Yes, I have said goodbye and really there are no words that work.

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  18. kj,
    This is very beautiful. Thank you for sharing it.
    This connects with me, as I have recently learned, (over the last couple of years), that one of my great great great grandmothers was a woman of Inuit background - a knowledge I treasure.
    As well, at the daycare center where I work, a co-worker one day informed me, that with the children, we don't say "Goodbye", we always say, "See you, later". :)
    Brenda

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