I waited for each
protracted day to stretch by
before leaving on my trip,
living through every
crucified minute,
no other way, and then,
as the day neared,
I began to fear this new life,
this release from routine
into the abundance of a heart's
dream about to be brought alive.
Anything new
entails a little death,
I realized, any departure
beyond known rounds brings
some frantic grasping for the life
you're choosing to end,
its solid body
that you'll never touch again
Max Reif
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-death-of-the-familiar/
