Shangri-la

It's a long one. A narrative. An old man's journey to find peace.

Prologue

The village gates stood, like old men stand
Worn with age and bent by time
Rust had claimed each iron face
As had wrinkles done with mine

The iron giants stood apart
Shaking  as the north wind blew
Creaking as their maker passed
I felt certain that they knew

I am leaving Wuling now
Gripped she by the throes of death
Touched she by the hands of time
Breathed she the last of her breath

Nature would not save Wuling
Famine leeched away her life
Pes-tilence claiming  her people
Among them, my sons and wife

 Pain speaks every language known
So I found when it found me
And while not all men know its tongue
I’ve come to speak it fluently

Hard times then were made much worse
My mind, seeking to reflect
Made my memories seem as curse
I, not master of pain yet

 I was young, when youth prevailed
What held youth but sweeter days
And a certain frame of mind
That was bent on foolish ways?

We were fools ere wisdom came
We were glad to dream of heaven
Religion held our vices tame
Schooling us on sins of seven

We were glad and light of mind
Pleased with all our blind eyes saw
Joy, the birthright of mankind
Would dwell with us forever more

We were young when youth prevailed
Nimble minds, and bodies strong
But the reign of youth was short
And we found that we were wrong

They came upon us suddenly
The weeks of cold, the months of drought
A strange disease swallowing my people
Spitting shrunken corpses out

We had hoped but hoped in vain
I had prayed, it came to nought
I, once smith of a large village
Leaving it through gates I wrought

 
Shangri-la

Heaven having failed in hope
Hope itself found wanting
Having lost all I can lose
I am left with nothing…

I will go to find respite
Where the dreams of men collect
Where the signs of hard years fade
And the weary can forget

I will go to Shangri-la
Ease to soul and peace to mind
Strength to all those weak in body
All that man can hope to find

I am going to Shangri-la
South of God and north of men
West of every broken dream
East of those who hoped in them

Shangri-la, covered in snow
Dwelling there, the ageless Yeti
Older than the sons of men
Wiser than the stars are many

I am going to Shangri-la
Earth’s last sign of heaven touch
Hidden from the eye of man
Kept outside of evil’s watch

I am going to Shangri-la
Nature’s lastborn wrapped in ice
Whitened by freedom from taint
Holy mountain paradise

I go now to Shangri-la
Far beyond the reach of time
Far above the grasp of fate
Webs spun of it’s own design

Utopia will bring relief
Severing chains of desolation
Re-acquaintance with belief
By the aid of restoration

Let the past relent in chase
That the haunt of loss may cease
Gone sons, to a better place
Found wife, an eternal peace

Refuge be found in holy haven
Pain be lost on mystic land
Moved by change on tidal waters
As in castles made with sand

Shangri-la, a last resort
Sought by many, found by few
Hidden in the Himalayas
Shielded from external view

Shangri-la, paradise lost
Closed to all enslaved to vice
Seen by he whose need is most
Never found by one man twice

Shangri-la, the name brings warmth
Weathered face wrinkling to smile
I set on the road to rest
Which I know is marked with trial

Leaving all I know behind
That my pieces be made whole
I am going to Shangri-la
Peace to mind and ease to soul…

Author's Note

Comments and criticisms are welcome. :)

Reviews

[Tom]

A journey to enlightenment, leaving the burdening past behind.....Shangri-la ! Maybe I too will come to know this place one day ?

A terrific poem, absorbing to read and congratulations to you friend !