y dear, the moment of parting has come: do not let it
Be crushing or bitter. In the past
There has been too much regret and moonlight:
Now let us lay a stone over it; now
More than ever the sun has cast itself upon the sky with boldness,
More than ever our hearts have thirsted for freedom,
To kick at the world, to lash the forests — you and I
Can no longer hold them; we are only shells, watching
The seed move on toward other uses.
There is regret. There is always regret.
But it is better that our lives drift apart,
Like two tall ships mastered by the wind, drenched in light,
As they loosen from the mooring with destinies set,
Swaying a little, swaying away from sight.
Poem by Philip Larkin:
