"To Say Farewell"

My heart has rooms that sigh with dust
And ashes in the the hearth.
They must be cleaned and blown away
By daylight's breath.
But I cannot essay the task,
For even dust to me is dear;
For dust and ashes still recall,
My love was here.

I know not how to say Farewell,
When Farewell is the word
That stays alone for me to say
Or will be heard.
But I cannot speak out that word
Or ever let my loved one go:
How can I bear it that these rooms
Are empty so?

                               I sit among the dust and hope

                              That dust will cover me.

                              I stir the ashes in the hearth,

                              Though cold they be.

                              I cannot bear to close the door,

                              To seal my loneliness away

                              While dust and ashes yet remain

                              Of my love's day.

"To Say Farewell" is a selection from a book in a series I love called The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Stephen R. Donaldson. He is an amazing author and I recommend the series, although I know not everyone enjoys his style. This is a beautiful interpretation of love and the loss of love that we experience as we go through life. 

This picture I took on a vacation in Bannor Elk, North Carolina. This particular location was a trail with an amazing lookout called Beacon Heights.

Once again, feel free to post your thoughts...