she flies tomorrow

we prepare an audio advent calendar,
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,
a story that i used to read to them
when they were small,
recorded in 24 handy sized mp3’s
so she can hear our voice–
it won’t add weight to her suitcase,

she’s allowed 20 kilo luggage
on the flight
“not much for 6 months–”she pouts

“you’ll be good” i say,
my motto is to travel light,
no more than one bag,
never more than you can carry on your own,

the suitcase yawns– hungry, open lid&
half-packed in her room,
list lying next to it
with things she wrote down weeks ago,

“i’m afraid that i’m forgetting something”
“let’s check–
passport// tickets// a bit money//
if you don’t forget these, everything’s alright

“you’ll get wet– ” i smile, “30 C and rain”
(i put a weather app for Costa Rica on my laptop
as soon as it was clear that she would go)
“only in the afternoon mom–
should be sunny in the mornings“

&i hate good-bye’s
even though this one is temporary
space between an ending & new start,
tension mixed with ripples of excitement// fear,
warm hazel hair wrapped ‘round my fingers,

if my voice
shakes a bit (after the Macklemore tune in)
it’s cause i picture you, somewhere
between the caribbean and pacific,
smiling–
as you listen

.

it’s my pleasure to serve drinks behind the dVerse bar tonite.. write a poem & join us as we celebrate poetry.. no specific theme.. just poetry as it pours in…doors open at 3pm EST