Someone is saying goodbye in this poem, and they don't want to make it harder than it already is. The speaker asks to be let go, insisting there's no real choice in the matter. Who is leaving, and why, is never explained, which leaves the poem open. It could be a death, a separation, or a parent or friend stepping back, and the words fit any of them.
What comes through most is tenderness. The speaker admits the pain ("It may seem hard now") but promises that the other person will learn to cope "without my help." They also describe a two-way bond: "I protected you, / And in a way you protected me." The line "nothing gold stays" sounds like acceptance that good things end, even precious ones.
The mood is quiet, sad, and gently hopeful. The final lines suggest the parting isn't forever, though reunion will take time. The trailing full stops make the ending feel soft and unfinished, as if the speaker is still reluctant to say the last word.