“The Upside of Good-Bye”

There was an element of majesty
In the way the lady said that she
Was leaving in the morning for the coast
And that goodbye should have brought me pain
But I watched her quickly check the reins
Of emotions, which unloosed, would cripple most

Then the thing that struck me strangely
Was the feelin’ that I had when she was gone
The few that left before had left me empty
But she left me with a boldness to lean on

[break]

Then the thing that struck me strangely
Was the feelin’ that I had when she was gone
The few that left before had left me empty
But she left me with a fullness to lean on

So, the bitterness that usually set in
Was effectively undone
By the girl’s uncommon grace
And the thrust of the experience
Was the enrichening and lively sense
She gave to my life and to its pace

I don’t know where she’s gone
Her wanderlust surely was strong
Love would be made much more sure
If all the ladies leaving left like her
If all the ladies leaving left like her