LEAVING

He laughs, remembering a joke.
He tells us and we all laugh.

He pulls me up onto his lap,
and I turn to see his face,
but he blurs.

I remember him lifting me up,
threatening to drop me.
He's always playing.
The light shines upon his face,
lighting up his face.
He smiles up at me. We
laugh with joy, and I
give him a hug, then
go to my mother, and
then we leave.

We leave.
Always leaving.
Leaving my father.
Leaving my relatives.
Leaving my home.
Returning just to leave.
One side leaving, but
one side always staying.

I want my father to stay,
picking me up,
not always fading, blurring
when I turn to see him.

JENNY SNOW, Grade 7
San Pasqual Union
Escondido,California