Lasciami andare

I didn't come to say goodbye
because I don't know
the proper tone for a goodbye
or even the words
for the occasion
or where to put my hands
where to look,
which wall of the room
to look at
I didn't come to say goodbye.

I didn't come to say goodbye
because I don't understand
the proper time for a goodbye
that finds the right words
and bridges distance
and then frees your hands
and lets you look
beyond the wall of a room,
look
I didn't come to say goodbye

We'll never retrace
our steps, never
there will no longer be room,
not even in hiding,
in days past, never.

We'll never come back
or only to remember
that the time of memory
is the time of delay,
and it doesn't make things come back
let me go.

I didn't come to say goodbye
though now I can see it,
the proper tone for a goodbye,
and I know the words
for the occasion
and I can shake hands
and I can look at
any wall in a room
look...
we'll never come back...