So Long

I'm here tonight
in this bar
listening to the conversations
of those around me.

I pretend that I care--
but we all know I really don't.

I see the world in a hue of pale blue
with your face reflected
at the bottom of every empty glass

even though I've washed my hands
of all of it, I wish I could come back for more
as smoke from cigarettes swirls 'round me
and for once I don't seem to mind it.

Tonight I'll toast in your honor
and raise my glass up to the sky,
because I prefer to wait 'til
the crowds have gone home
for me to say my final goodbye
to a friend, a person so much
a part of me that he could match
the sparkles in my eyes
with the smallest glimpse of his smile.

We had just said our hello,
but now we're forced to say so long
to you and your life
along with the secrets and lies
that harnessed themselves to you
like wings made of paper
forcing us to fly off buildings
hoping we'll land on our feet
but never really landing at all.

You held me when I was scared
of the skeletons rattling in my closet.

I held your head up
when the world fought hard to bring it down.

Please before I walk out that door
give me one more dance
to remember for the road
of life that I now must travel without you.

Then we'll glance over our shoulders
as I walk out the door,
just like in all those
corny Hollywood movies,
because it's too painful to look
into each others eyes.