Song of the Sojourner

Song of the Sojourner From far, far, away, In this land so foreign, Memories of you haunt me. I pine away in craving, For the feel of your breath, Cool, soft and saline, Fanning my face, gently. Memories of our first embrace, As I crawled on my belly, Under chairs, tables and beds, Crying at every obstacle, Covered in your dirt, In search of my beloved mother My mind has clearly rebuilt. I still hear your music, In a tongue rich and ancient. Your pantheon of masquerades, Deifying great creatures of your rivers, Each, called to the center by name, By the voice of your talking drums. Dance steps, electric and eclectic! Though I continue to sojourn, In this land across foreign waters, Your gods, I have not forgotten, Your traditions, have never left me. I therefore make this pledge, That surely, I will return, To you, oh land of my fathers