He Never Said Goodbye – Pamela Sackett

Upon his back I perched to ride the water’s bend
on a day to lend
he felt delight that flowers grow

he told me so
he embraced the wind…

but he never said goodbye
never said goodbye
for in the hour of night’s disguise
he uttered its arrival with his eyes
and he never said goodbye

and I was his in time and space
his little girl by heart and face
most knew

his princess with her steps designed
her fingers poised and voice aligned
I twirled for him
to see him smile
and hold my image for a while

and he never said goodbye
never said goodbye
for in the hour of night’s disguise
he uttered its arrival with his eyes
and he never said goodbye

and oh the years
with mingling fears
we sat through visits
at our fences
seldom taking chances

to know the pattern of a crossing
or start a voyage with a lost wing
but he could see me
like no other
yielding knowing
my brave father

he never said goodbye
never said goodbye
in the hour of night’s disguise
he uttered its arrival with his eyes

and when his passage and way were cleared
I turned around
and disappeared

composition, guitar, vocal: Pamela Sackett
(a song I wrote after my father’s death at fifty-two)
waterscape: Bill Zama