Like a straw man, <br />Hunted by gusts of wind <br />(in order to outrun death) , <br />I am returning to the valley of my childhood; <br />To see the old home one last time, <br />To see the old walnut tree one last time, <br />under which my mother used to read <br />Mark Twain's wonderful stories to me. <br />Nothing is the same anymore, everyone is dead, <br />Apart from memories and the old walnut tree; <br />Its old, trembling, bare branches <br />are impatiently waiting <br />to hug me one last time. <br /> <br />When destiny leaves you alone in the dark; <br />When your mother and father leave you early, <br />All you have left are Faith; <br />All you have left are dreams, <br />Yes, my friend, life rolls along the road of dreams, <br />And each dream is finished soon; <br /> <br />Just one more time, <br />I'd like to touch the coarse face of the old walnut tree, <br />To find a long lost tear <br />below its tired feet. <br />When I started on this long voyage, <br />The night was bright, and our beautiful walnut tree cried, <br />Yes, my friend, trees can cry too; <br /> <br />Just one more time, <br />I'd like to touch the old walnut tree, <br />To cling my face against my old friend's face, <br />Like a beloved son, <br />To hear the happy voices of my mother and father; <br />When your memories fade, dropp down to your knees <br /> <br />To feel how the earth loves, <br />So your memories can find their sacred sanctuary. <br />When they want to kill your memories, hoist your flag of dreams <br />And keep on marching your way, like a noble soldier of Faith, <br />Because few are the poets who are honored <br />To finish their voyage <br />In the place they were born.<br /><br />Walter William Safar<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-last-voyage-2/
