Poetry Friday

I skipped poetry Friday last week, but it's back. I thought I'd share some modern poetry by Sophie Hannah (who I am not overly familiar with, but who is someone to read more of perhaps), with thanks to Simone for sharing it originally. I really like this poem. There are times when we need to leave circumstances or situations, but in so doing are not choosing to leave individuals ...

Leaving and Leaving You

When I leave your postcode and your commuting station,

When I leave undone the things that we planned to do,

You may feel you have been left by association,

But there is leaving and there is leaving you.

When I leave your town and the club that you belong to,

When I leave without much warning or much regret,

Remember, there’s doing wrong and there’s doing wrong to

You, which I’ll never do and I haven’t yet,

And when I have gone, remember that in weighing

Everything up, from love to a cheaper rent,

You were all the reasons I thought of staying

And you were none of the reasons why I went

And although I leave your sight and I leave your setting

And our separation is soon to be a fact,

Though you stand beside what I’m leaving and forgetting,

I’m not leaving you, not if motive makes the act.

Sophie Hannah