The Road Calls Me Back

The red earth remembers my name,
whispers it in the dust that rises,
welcoming me home, not as I was,
but as I have become.

The streets hum, alive with rhythm,
voices colliding like rivers meeting,
the scent of Indian chai thick in the air,
folding memory into the morning breeze.

I return to a place both known and strange,
where past and present press against each other,
a city growing taller, reaching forward,
yet haunted by the echoes of what once stood.

Footsteps trace the roads of my childhood,
but the shade is gone,
trees felled, laughter softened,
the land shifting beneath me.

Still, I belong to this soil,
this pulse of Kampala,
where change marches onward,
but home still calls me by name.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025

Poem

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Maverick Avatar
October 18, 2025 at 2:06 PM
I sense a febrility..Longing and desire.)
Edwards Avatar
October 18, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Yes, febrility is the undercurrent. Not feverish in chaos, but in memory. A longing that hums beneath the dust, a desire not to reclaim the past, but to be seen by it . . . as I am now, not as I was. Thank you for sensing the pulse.
De Beaulieu Avatar
July 14, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Hello Dr. ivan Edwards, you have lovely memories of your past. blessings my frind. /Darlene/
De Beaulieu Avatar
July 16, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Hello Ivan Edwards, yes the poem spike to me. Enjoyh your day my friend. /Darleene/
Edwards Avatar
July 15, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Thank you, Darlene. Memories have a way of painting our past with grace. I’m grateful the poem spoke to you. Blessings to you, my friend.
Wolf Avatar
June 16, 2025 at 8:58 PM
The electricity, the tension of new meeting old, is felt deeply. Kudos, Gershon
Edwards Avatar
June 18, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Thank you, Gershon! I truly appreciate your words and your keen eye for the tension . . .
Etgen-Baker Avatar
June 12, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Hi--I'm a great believer in the value of memories, so your poem touched a chord with me. Like you my 'home' still calls my name. I, too, am new to Poetry Soup. Looking forward to reading more of your work. Welcome! Yellow Rose
Edwards Avatar
June 16, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Thank you, Yellow Rose! I truly appreciate your words. Memories have a way of anchoring us, shaping who we are even as time moves forward. I’m glad the poem resonated with you. Home never stops calling, does it? Welcome to Poetry Soup! Looking forward to reading your work as well. Here’s to shared reflections and the beauty of poetry!
Agustin Avatar
May 30, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Thanks for sharing this... exposing your thoughts through your unique poetic style. Welcome to Poetry Soup. I welcome you with the love of the Lord, expressed by John 3:16 of the Bible, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Be blessed.
Edwards Avatar
May 30, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Thank you for your kind words and for welcoming me with such heartfelt sincerity. I appreciate your blessing and the reminder of John 3:16—love, in all its forms, remains the greatest gift. May we continue to inspire and uplift one another through poetry and shared reflections. Blessings to you as well.
Kelly -Knowles Avatar
May 28, 2025 at 7:46 PM
I like the sense of nostalgia you evoke in this beautiful piece.
Edwards Avatar
May 30, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Thank you. I’m glad the nostalgia resonated with you. Memory has a way of keeping the past alive, even as time moves forward. I appreciate your kind words and your engagement with this poetry.
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