I had some drinks some former work friends the other evening. They are all still working while I lead a life of leisure. Each of them is approaching that age of making decisions for retirement, but sometimes fate leads you down a different path. I was struck that one of them, after living in much bigger cities, wants to return to his small town roots. Does he have hometown fever? With all due respect, I would never want to go back to my hometown, and thoughts of an upcoming 50th high school reunion only reinforce that notion. Everything has changed since I left, so it’s not really home any more. I hope the best for my friend as he opens a business back home, and wrote this poem in honor of the difficult life choices that all of us make.
Hometown Fever
You Can’t Go Back!
Some might say.
The road of life,
Goes just one way.
Home, others scoff,
Is where you hang your hat.
Some find that comfort,
Wherever they’re at.
Once you leave home,
Leaving nothing on the rack.
You best think twice,
Before you go and pack.
She’s your shelter,
Where you’re well known.
Your port in a storm.
Where you’re not alone.
People there know you,
And may beg you to stay.
But you can’t wait.
To get on your way.
Before you remove,
That safety net.
And run as far away,
As you can get.
Will you someday catch,
Hometown fever?
Wishing you had never,
Taken steps to leave her.
Not everyone,
Flees the nest.
For some of us,
Home is best.
Homesickness is,
A lesson to learn.
From those who leave,
And try to return.
Had you stayed,
With hat on head.
A different life,
You would have led.
Or had you gone,
And said goodbye?
At least you could say,
“I gave it a try.”
Is coming back,
The answer then?
Or will you always wonder,
How it might have been?
copyright 2018 johnstonwrites.com
I have to thank you for the efforts you’ve put in penning this website.
I’m hoping to see the same high-grade blog posts by you later
on as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has inspired
me to get my own site now 😉 http://spherelabs.org/