You may be saddened by my parting

You may be saddened by my parting

You may be saddened by my parting
Perhaps a reflection of what I meant to you
But please my friends you ought to know,
I was ready, that I knew

The world is one I no longer know
And one which I am content to be denied
For as much as there have been so many good things in my life
There have been many bad things beside

I’m no longer looking to the future
Or I’m despondent as to what that will be
As successive governments have laid bare our land
Its heart, its sole, its destiny

You, good friends, may share my views
Or maybe that’s not the case
Whatever, as these are my parting words,
Please bear with me with humour and grace

You have been in my life and I in yours,
That we both do know
And I thank you for all the joys you have brought
Before it was time for me to go.

Your kindness, caring and thoughtful acts,
The times we spent together,
Will be remembered, shared, recalled and shared again
Over the days ahead and indeed forever

I wish you well over the years ahead
And despite my doom and gloom
Hope that life for you and all about
Is as scented as a rose in bloom.

©