Salted Wounds

Goodbye tastes like salt.

It tastes like acid and tears.

Like too many words that find fault,

and the passing of years.

Goodbye smells like cologne.

It smells like roses that long ago died.

Like an empty house, and being alone.

Like happy pills and alcohol, things we both tried.

Goodbye sounds like a favorite song turned sad.

It sounds like shouted regrets.

Like memories spoken out loud, the good and the bad.

And so much pain we wish we could forget.

Goodbye looks like empty windows and open doors.

It looks like pictures pulled from frames,

like empty closets and drawers.

And the look shared between two people who know it will never be the same.

Goodbye is breaking hearts.

It’s wishing you didn’t know why,

knowing there can’t be fresh starts,

and it is the last thing between you and I.