The Farewell

a poem by Jan Oskar Hansen

After we said goodbye
the day had an empty feel,
the air was cold and nature looked pale
as it was suffering a wasting disease
and would succumb before spring.
Wrapped in a cling film of misery
I couldn’t hear peoples voices
and news of an impending war seemed trivial.
When I finally was able to fall asleep
I dreamed of your warmth
only to wake up in a mist of gloom.
But spring did come
when the sun of promise shone through my windows,
days went by when I didn’t think of you.
I have met another now,
but I fear seeing you again,
my flame of love for you
still has an ember
that easily can be fanned into life.