Postcard To A Dear Departed

Dear Departed,
Is this the lesson then, in your leaving?
A useless exercise to ask you on paper.
I wish you could see over my shoulder,
guide my hands, map out my words.

I want to play it, forever into the future,
stand in the places you stood truly,
in an effort to reside for a time
behind your eyes and upturned face.

I wish you could show me how to breathe
without the whole house collapsing
as I struggle to know which door to slam shut
right before I open the exact right window!

I wonder how you knew which journeys
were better taken, heart and soul,
versus those you packed up for,
walking until you blistered foot!

I hope you know, you must know!
How much I miss your guidance,
but how completely I trust that you
still believe I'll get where I'm going.