Family Ties

Family Ties Brothers should I leave you And travel life for years without you And should I never return to our home Remember it was I who journeyed alone And should the time in passing Bring me memories of regret Should the entire world forget? To search for you when you are missing And so ask yourselves why Why should my brother be leaving? And why for so long has he wandered solitary Never returning Brothers on some momentary day spent wishing Without recognition By my side you where resting And did not speak my name And in all the land and cities seen None of your faces have been While our blood and our brotherhood meandered through foreign streets Less than a thought away And should I never greet you again Before this departure had made its pact Would you stand by my door? Lest you be turned away The cold trap of our families living And the continuous undiscovered lie It was That kept my feet from turning For so long and farewell you have lost me And for more than years have you waited This silent reminder beckoned to me To remind me of you “ It was in April of 91 that I first returned, after traveling and working abroad. My knock on our old blue front door was not greeted with smiles, but with vexed and unwelcoming eyes. On my back a rucksack, on my feet old worn boots. This was the last time I saw our Father and these were his only words.” “You can’t stay here.” He even repeated it to make sure I had heard. “You can’t stay here.” “ I did not know it then, as I know now; of the filth he has fated and intended to my life. Yet ever his fear of discovery built his lies for me. My last words to him were these…….. “Do you see these boots?” I asked, “they are more than five years old and the most comfortable boots I have ever worn. That’s a pretty good life for a pair of boots don’t you think?” And with those boots and my rucksack on my back I walked away. Not for a moment did he ask me to stay or offer a moments ease, a cup of tea, or inquire as to where I was heading. There was no farewell as up the road and into a different life I went walking. Brothers should I leave you And travel life for years without you And should I never return to our home Remember it was I who journeyed alone