There is a Great Loss Here There is a great loss here, Perhaps unaware The eagle flies alone over the tops of mountains, Leaving its mate behind to settle the score of unity's prize- Aloneness. That shriek that tears the night-sky, Calling back memory's Gentleness. That peat and pith within the womb's- Oneness. In silence its wings dip behind the mountain's arch, Falling away In feathered farewell to Goodbye's endlessness. -Richard Claude Valdez Bidding farewell to anyone or anything is never easy. In his third volume of poems, Richard Claude Valdez shares verse that pays tribute to goodbyes through separation, disconnection, and death, all echoed through nature and the human heart. While immersed in a lyrical struggle between youthful passion and the age of compassion, Valdez reflects on love, joy, sorrow, regret, passion, and hope amid the after-effects of an unforgiving circumstance, remembrances scarred on an ancient landscape, a miracle cradled in comfort, a misty memory of a carefree dance, and dishonor heaped upon a generous spirit. East of Goodbye shares thoughtful poems that explore and reflect on the many aspects of separation while inspiring others to look inward and study their own journey through life.