I’ve said goodbye to the baguettes, the brie cheese, the kinder buenos,
to the abundance of tea and the tap water.
I’ve said goodbye to my striped gloves, my floppy blue hat, my hand knitted scarf,
to my comfy coat and my spectacular boots.
I’ve said goodbye to the cold chill in the air, the gray skies, the early sunsets,
to the small flurries of snow and the bare trees.
I’ve said goodbye to the buses, the trains, the cobblestone streets,
to the cute little row houses and the old brick buildings.
I’ve said goodbye to the city lights, the crowded downtown streets, the accents I love,
to the cosy tucked away cafes and the man singing ‘no woman no cry’ on the street corner.
I’ve said goodbye to a city I love, a country I’ll miss, a continent I’m attached to.
I’ve said goodbye to feeling at home and feeling like I belong.
Yet, amidst all the goodbyes and the tears that are streaming down my cheeks, I can see that my departure is all part of God’s plan.
He gives and takes away.
