DEPARTURE MEETING

We held on
A moment longer
Than was necessary
Than we should have
Than we would have
Than we did
When we said goodbye
Earlier
Because this time
We grew
We discovered
We learned
We taught
Each other
And what wasn't
Became what was
And what is
Paving the way
For what will be
And when we felt it
We slowly
But not reluctantly
Let go

**********

DEPARTURE IN SLOW MOTION

She stood still
As I stepped on
The moving train
The rain fell
Around her
Softly
Everything moved
In stills
A drop dripped
From her hair
Down
Slowly
Hands nodded
Mouths opened
But no voice came out
Just the sound
Of the rain
Hands reached out
But out of touch
Not trying to touch
Just reaching out
A lone voice echoed
Through the rain
Vibrating
With the rhythm of the train
Just a moment more
Things left unsaid
The clanking begins
Still hanging out
Still standing still
Looking out
Transfixed
For that last moment
For that last look
Becoming smaller
Tinier
Moving away
A heartbeat
Stop
Pulsating
Knocking
Clanking
Eyes shut tight
Adding to the drizzle
Salty remembrances
Flashes
White light
Zoom
Moments replayed
Relived
A jerk
Back to reality
Still smaller
Hands still nodding
Now waving
To the beat
Everything else still
Moving
Away
And away
And away

**********

DEPARTURE - THE DEATH OF A DREAM

Looking out
Far far away
At something
Only she can see
In her mind
The picture replayed
Again and again
Of moving away
The release
And then left alone
As she had been before
The step
Taken backwards
Slowly
Another one
Another one
Like that
The departure
The falling rain
Little splashes
Tiny pricks
Within
Being washed away
The gurgling drains
The mechanical beat
The half step
Taken towards
But retraced
The frozen hand
The frozen moment
The frozen night
Looking out
Everything around
Unmoved
Stillness
And a lone leaf
Makes its way
Floating to the ground
While all else is still
A vision
A thought
Another replay
In slow motion
Suddenly
Fat splattering rain
A sudden death
And the dream
Has reached its end

**********

Arjun Purkayastha's Questions:

These poems are 3 different ways of looking at the same departure. Which one appeals to you the most, and why?

What message do these poems convey to you?

How do you as a reader relate to them?

Is there any visual appeal in the poems - how do you picture them as you read them?