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Eclipse (1968)

David W. Jackson

Coming back
I came upon the border full of scars
With a borrowed map spread on my knee.
I was thinking
Already my hands were grown old
With five tied tongues apiece.

I had always been shall we say
Safer
When the fields were greener
Over there,
But nowhere near demanding
Nowhere new.

(To get there I might add unnoticed
I had hauled pride like a chain
And worn my hunger like
A fat belt.)

And here I am again
Home again
With a new map of the old days
Like a traveller with
Ten new marvels.

And here is that same old house
As if moving
Glad to accommodate departure
Full of new doubts
The same room with half a roof
Wearing the same effigies.

I will move in.

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