Ina Donna Coolbrith

A Good-By

Under whatever sky
Thy pathway be,
Near or afar,
Clear be its light of sun, its light of star:
Bright as the memory
We hold of thee,
Good-by!

Good-by!
Let not our parting sigh
Be wholly lost in the new words that greet.
New loves may be as sweet,
New friends may serve as surely,
Hold as dearly, love as purely,
But never hearts may be
Truer than these whose thoughts go, after thee,
Good-by!
Good-by!