Exodus - Poem #41

We  used to live by an ancient Roman road
where chalk gave way to clay
then to grandfather’s fertile garden,
  lemon trees and vines.

Now we walk in the footprint of the Legions
pass the iron age fort
toward the setting sun, squinting into the night
for signs of good fortune; an eagle wheeling westward home.

As we awake to the scent of dew,
passed the place where Brutus met his end
  a nation walks away from the homeland,
its web of common roads and famine.

How can I leave my land
where I loved nothing more
than flying a kite with my children,
wiping the oil off of wild pistachio fruit?

My legs grow stronger now,
carrying our burdens to Roman land
thinking not return from whence we came
for my son is smiling, wild berries bleeding on his teeth.

.

Reviews

[John the Baptist]

This poet has an excellent sense for imagery, painting word pictures of the things the traveler encounters. We can almost see the eagle wheeling in the sky and smell the dew. It would be interesting to know the time period of the setting and why the man feels he has to leave his homeland. Well done.

PS: Do a spell check on the first word of verse 2, line 2, and the first word of verse 3, line 4.

[toritto]

Hi John - I wrote this a couple of years ago as Syrians were marching through the Balkans toward Germany. Glad you like. Thanks for the spell check. Old fingers. I am 76! :-) Regards from Florida.