Settling Down

billzhao

Coming here
Settling down
was easier for you
Homesick
I measured the miles
2 X( u6 x# p) V: ~( Hset the clock's dark hands
) [% y8 T" i4 I+ L) d! |* |with a view of returning to home ground
6 d6 M+ }  [/ i3 X; k  T% R2 S
' \8 Z, D( m  q' e/ C) J/ bDays inched into years
I watched others
  v% L7 ^3 A5 p5 mcome and go back
go and come back
$ w7 C0 S8 F! ]4 h, |We never did
! H& S9 d# V! Q: s2 n: R! ?nor can we now
+ \! a: V2 e! P& o  tresettle in the old country
3 a  F' k$ m; X2 p- }, }0 eleave our children
. e8 A/ u7 ?7 Mand their children
+ E% z* A5 u1 f7 ~settled down in theirs
9 I: c9 q, {1 L/ Q. {+ A

-----Margaret Saunders, in Bridging the Gap, 1990