In the last of the afternoon sunshine
I said farewell to a new old friend
And began my journey home.

In my memory, the minutes stretch
Into hours as I remember
All that I saw as a tried to savour
Every last drop of adventure before
Returning to adversity.

Even then, the Sun was setting,
But I stretched the twilight seconds
Into long ribbons of daylight that
Wrapped brightly around my throat.

It was an exercise in endurance:
Testing my mettle just to discover
How much I could withstand,
To find where my limits really were,
To see how much I could sacrifice
In order to be who I thought I ought
To be.

Mistakes unacknowledged meant
More mistakes were made.
Instead of retreating intact,
I ran myself determinedly aground.

Perhaps this is what I did not
Think of as my travelling changed
From pleasure to practical.
Perhaps this is the reason I began
To hanker after taking the long way,
Catching the slow train.

There are good memories, but
They would be sweeter if
They were not covered in thorns.

03/07/2021

Posted on 03/13/2021
Copyright © 2024 Richard Vince