Walkabout 2016

They say that one should know their place… quite civilized I’d say,

But if that’s true, one thing for sure… in one place one can’t stay.

You need to move around a bit… comparisons be made,

Thus for a certain Georgia boy… farewell to home he bade.

He wound up far across the world… an Asian war some say,

Flew rescue choppers for a time… might say he saved the day.

Continued with this chopper thing… went to the Middle East,

Some royalty they say he flew… or V-I-Ps at least.

Too hot, too dry (I’m talking booze) . . . and so he came back home,

But “home” as in the USA… inside it he would roam.

He had a business, built it up… then sold it and moved west,

Went to a place where Mormons dwell… he felt he was a guest.

And so he headed way up north… where polar bears do roam,

Of salmon, “ice”, and long dark nights… Alaska now his home.

In fifteen years, traversed it all… by plane and truck and sled,

Once more the wanderlust sets in… and so down south he’ll head.

For now he’s on a walkabout… no hurry is he in,

He’ll meet some friends along the way… and tell them where he’s been.

The West Coast he will drive on down… then eastward he will head,

Great Smoky Mountains he might see… along its trails he’ll tread.

Perhaps in Texas he will stop… at least to lend a hand,

One daughter there he’ll help to move… stay longer than he planned?

But for right now, one thing’s for sure… he’ll drive from state to state,

And think deep thoughts along the way… his life he’ll contemplate.

And when he finds that special place… he’ll know at last he’s home,

Then settle down, perhaps for good?... no longer will he roam.

For he’ll have everything at last… online or by his side,

For in the end that’s all one needs… serenity inside.

Russ Smith 4/05/2016