Parting Time

Their melancholy intensified

In the last hour

As if with sadness

Time would go slower

But they knew no matter

how much they wished me to stay

I still had to leave

They stuffed as many things

As they could into my suitcase

Until it almost burst with their love

When it’s time to go

Mother would tear up

Father, a quiet person

Would naggingly remind me

To take care of myself

Watching their frail forms and gray hair

I knew the time left for me to visit them

Was decreasing and once again

I used up another chance

By Shih-Fang Wang

From: United States