Journey to Bangor

As I journey to Bangor to see my true love I meet a man who is exceedingly kind. He asks where I am going. I say Bangor. He tells me I am going the wrong way. He offers to walk with me and feed me if I go with him. I am suspicious. I know where Bangor is. I excuse myself politely and move on.

A ways down the road I meet a woman who is finely dressed and beautiful from head to toe. I greet her. She asks me where I am going. I tell her I am going to Bangor. She raises an eyebrow and says, "But Bangor is that way. You are going the wrong way!" I tell her that the map I have says Bangor is this way. I appreciate her concern, but I will be fine.

Next I meet a carriage with fine people riding in comfort. They call down to me. "Where are you going?" I reply that I am going to Bangor. They offer to take me there in their carriage. They point the direction I came from and say it is about a days ride that way. They offer me good food and wine if I will come with them. They say they have a business and will give me a job if I come with them. I am very suspicious now. Why all the effort? Why does everyone want me to go that way? Then I think. I have not seen any travelers going the direction I am going. I realize that they would be moving, but you would think I would catch up with someone or someone would pass me. But, I am vigilant. I am going to Bangor. Nothing will stop me. I have made up my mind. All the phantoms in the world cannot convince me that Bangor is that way! I know who they are and I know what they want.

I realize a while later that the road to Bangor is all uphill. It is taking me much longer to go a mile than it takes the folks going the other way. I increase my pace. Immediately, two men come on to the road and intercept me.

"Excuse me." one starts. "We seem to be lost. We are looking to go to Bangor. We will pay anyone handsomely who will take us there."

I look at their eyes. They are shiny and full of mischief. "I am going this way, but everyone I meet says Bangor is that way."

"Yet, you go this way even though you are told it is the wrong way? Why would you do that?"

"Some knowledge cannot be told. It can only be lived."

"Then you will take us with you to Bangor?"

"No." I said softly. "I am going alone."

"Why won't you take us?"

"You are not going to Bangor."

"How do you know this?"

"Because you are more interested in me than in your destination. I know what that means."

"You are impossible!" They said and wandered off the path again.

I decided that I did not want to walk to Bangor, I wanted to dance to Bangor! So I began humming a tune to myself. I skipped a bit as I invented a walking dance to my tune. Soon, I had lyrics to my tune.

"...It's a long, long way to Mississippi,
it's a long, long way to Peru,
It's a long, long way to Bangor Maine but I'm,
coming to you.

It's a long, long, way to Reading,
it's a long, long way to Siam,
it's a long, long way to Bangor Maine dancing
fast as I can.

It's a long, long way to Johannesburg,
it's a long, long way to the Moon,
it's a long, long way to Bangor Maine where I
hope to be soon..."

I saw a stream with a beautiful waterfall just off the road. I stopped to have a drink and a bath. I heard my mother's voice saying, "Don't stop too long." I bathed in the water and floated in the cool pool. I about fell asleep when I heard a loud screech. An Eagle was headed right at my face screetching loudly. It just missed my face and grabbed a fish about ten feet away in the water. Then it flew to the road, turned and flew towards Bangor. I hear my mother's voice again. "Time to go."

"...It's a long, long way to Kansas City,
it's a long, long way to Brazil,
it's a long long way to Bangor Maine and I'm,
headed there still..."

I ponder why the journey is so lonely. I ponder why it is always uphill. I ponder why I must make this journey. I keep meeting people who would look after me and take care of me if I would only turn around!

"...It's a long, long, way to Florida,
it's a long, long, way to Ixtlan
it's a long, long way to Bangor Maine but I'll
do what I can..."