You were
exorcized
letter by letter,
word by word,
phrase by phrase,
sentence by sentence,
paragraph by paragraph,
page by page,
chapter by chapter.
Now you are
merely a spectre
who peeks around corners
whispers at my ear
hums for my remembrance.
My only benediction
on the lost boy
from long ago
is the bittersweet smile
and the faraway glimmer
in my eyes.
Shawn L. Bird 
How can you exorcise someone you love…You never can… maybe never want to.
Of course, you can.
To add another metaphor, it involves celebrating the journey of life, and waving good-bye to those taking different roads, but that can be a good thing. Those backpacks can become painfully heavy if we don’t leave some things behind.
lovely
Thank you.
certainly do like this one. last 6 lines pull me in.
Thanks, Don.
I’m glad you enjoyed it.
People grow- either upward, or onward.
or they stagnate.