Sik Road

story poem for Goco

 

 

 

 

Silk Road.

 

I will remember ‘til I die,

the crowded caravanserai

Where weary travellers spent the night

and tried to sleep until day light.

 

The camels voicing their complaint

 would try the patience of a saint.

Our journey started in Cathay

 we very slowly made our way.

 

With bales of silk we would exchange

 for foreign treasures rare and strange.

A camel driver’s life is hard

we risked our lives for small reward.

 

The greedy merchants stayed at home.

It’s only fools like me that roam

 and dare the dangers of the road

 to protect our precious load.

 

We traversed over desert sands

 until we reached the greener land.

The rugged mountains of the west

 but still for us there’s little rest.

 

For brigands dog us all the way

We have to keep watch night and day

until we reach our journeys end.

We must be ready to defend

 

ourselves against the outlaw bands.

Who roam at will in the wild lands,

where they sell for easy prey

 unarmed travellers to way lay.

 

But we are many and well armed

 allowed to go our way unharmed.

Until we reach our final goal,

though we must pay the city toll.

 

Before we sell our merchandise

 to anyone who has the price.

Fine silk a rare commodity

their merchants will buy readily.

 

When all is sold then we can rest

before we face the final test

Of getting safely home again

a happy band of weary men.

 

I am grown old my hair is white

but I remember with delight.

The great adventures that I had

 while I was still a growing lad.

 

The old Silk Road still calls to me.

Because of my infirmity

I am too old and weak today.

 I cannot go so I must stay.

 

I watch the caravans pass by

 no longer touched by jealousy.

I know my travelling days are done

 and that quite soon I will be gone.

 

Far, far beyond the yellow springs

 to where the golden dragon sings

his song of welcome from the skies

 for every son of Han who dies.

30-Apr-08

Reviews

[Touché Armada]

Thanks for the trip down the silk road, through the tinkeling heavily hammered tin clanking and the rich smell of spice... The sweat almost smells good =) .. Almost. Oh when the days of trade was earnt, whne it was open to who ever was willing to go the miles. and how illness perished on the way without reaching a new destination. How things have changed. I quite enjoyed that write =)

[S.E. Conway]

wow... nice... cammles scare the s**t out of me...

s.e.