Early Morning

His little hand slowly slipped
out of mine
as he whispered: good bye
a small smile on his lips.

I walked away
just a few steps
turned to see him standing there
a space of aloness around him
in front of the door of his classroom.

Tears filled my eyes:
it is so hard to let go
to know that others now
teach, instill, and broaden
the horizon of the child
so close to my heart.

I felt it again
so strongly, so painfully
that letting go of my son
so many years ago
his leaving-taking of my embrace
to enter the world of others
and I thought:
have I done enough
loved him enough
to make him strong enough
to fare well?

But this was long ago,
and the little hand slipping out of mine
this morning
was that of my grandson
on just another school day
and yet, and yet,
I felt the wrenching pain
of letting go
today
as if it were yesterday, yesteryear,
then and now
once again.