I’m heading West <br />(where ever that is) . <br /> <br />I march off <br />into the distance <br />of field & sky. <br /> <br />West is where <br />my Uncle is. <br /> <br />I cut through <br />the heat haze. <br /> <br />My uncle’s dinner <br />wrapped up in a scarf <br />on the end of a stick <br /> <br />as if I am <br />running away for ever. <br /> <br />Tea slops <br />in an old milk bottle <br /> <br />with a piece of cloth <br />as a stopper. <br /> <br />I stare into the empty air <br />as if suddenly I will discover there <br /> <br />a sign saying: <br />“West – this way! ” <br /> <br />My Auntie Nellie’s instructions <br />still stamped on the inside of my stupid skull. <br /> <br />“Go west into the field <br />with your Uncle Michael’s dinner. <br /> <br />“Tell him...” <br /> <br />Me too terrified to tell her <br />I don’t know <br />where West is? <br /> <br />Typical townie! <br /> <br />I search the farm <br />field by field <br /> <br />‘till I finally find him <br />sprouting out of a field <br />with a cloud attached to his head <br /> <br />beside the broken rickety gate <br />where the tiniest ever wild strawberries grow. <br /> <br />So this is where <br />West is! <br /> <br />Why didn’t she say so <br />in the first place! <br /> <br />This I know! <br /> <br />Why send me like a fool <br />on a child’s errand! <br /> <br />My uncle devours <br />everything ‘cept <br />the scarf & the stick. <br /> <br />Tells me <br />(“Oh no! ”) <br /> <br />to go South to <br />where Uncle Seanie is <br /> <br />and...<br /><br />Dónall Dempsey<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/go-west-young-man-for-lyn/
