I wrote this poem several years ago,
After meeting a haggard traveler in the woods;
I was reminded of it today by all the recent stories,
Of now lost and abandoned pets attempting to get home.
“A child on a farm sees a plane overhead,
And he dreams of all those faraway places;
A traveler on that plane sees the farmhouse,
And he dreams of home.”
Carl Burns
I came upon a traveler once
Who must have journeyed far
His silhouette was dark and grim
He was beaten, battered, scarred
His head hung low
His coat was worn
His flesh was gaunt
His feet were torn
Yet, this traveler traveled on
I offered him a sip of water
And he savored it like wine
I offered him a bite of food
And he so ravenously dined
Soon, I offered him a safe haven to rest
And for an instant, his gaunt face shined
Then, his all consuming yearning sparked
And his extremely haunted eyes, declined
Where could this traveler be going
This bitterly cold and rainy day?
What compelled him forward?
I guess, I really couldn’t say
Was he searching for a loved one?
Was he now struggling to get home?
Was he on some desperate mission?
Or was he now dying, so all alone?
I guess, that I’ll never really know
As this lone voyager trudged off
I now silently wished him well
I could somehow feel his anguish
I could somehow sense his inner hell
Man, beast, or spirit
It really doesn’t matter
Man, beast, or tormented soul
His plight could not have been sadder
Yet, this intrepid traveler traveled on
As I watched this valiant voyager vanish
Drenched, in both determination and fear
As I watched this very lonely voyager vanish
I soon found myself shedding yet one more tear
- And the traveler traveled on -
©2008, Mr. Ed
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