A Farewell to My Mentors

© 1999 Clifton D. Healy

So you heard the other day
Small talk round the chapel
An offhand comment
A remark half-buried in conversation
You heard I'd left the faith

And what ran through your mind
Contemplating my defection
Did you regret heeding my fevered pleas for help
The midnight drive from Kansas
Or did you simply sigh and shake your head

And what did you think
Of the one-time class president
A salutatorian's address
Some poems in the mail
Are these then wasted gifts

Or did you see it coming
A series of Thursday night meetings
Sincere little rebellions
And do you now nod your head
And smile at the gracious mystery

© 1999 Clifton D. Healy

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