My Travel Longings,
I’ve often been to Munich and I’ve walked the streets of Rome,
seen the sights of London, Athens, Singapore
but Christchurch in New Zealand is the city I call home
and I’m far too old to travel any more
and quite content to spend my time ashore.
I’ve been all over Germany, France, Italy and Greece
as well as England, Scotland, Wales and Eire
in India and Thailand, all the wonders of the East
I’ve been to see and, mostly, to admire.
before or since my time came to retire.
I’ve seen the Giza Pyramids and, for a little while,
I hoped that I might get to visit Spain
Though I’ve stayed in Cairo, never got to venture up the Nile
and I doubt I’ll ever get the chance again
‘coz my Doctors say I’m not to go by plane.
I’ve been in mighty palaces where French and German Kings
or Emperors of Austria once reigned
and the churches and cathedrals there, art galleries and things
which today by hordes of tourists are profaned
but I’m grateful for the memories I’ve gained.
And I often think I’d like to go back to the USA;
California/Los Angeles at least
but everywhere great crowds are there – far more than in my day
and travelling today is such a beast
since smoking in the aircraft cabins ceased.
Perhaps I might just get to reach Australia again
for that’s not very far for us to fly
I remember Sydney’s Centre Point, King’s Cross and posh Balmain
and the jellyfish and sheilas at Bondi
with a thousand other things to catch your eye.
In Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, there’s plenty to command
a tourist’s interest and suit his fancy
but it’s best to learn the lingo if you want to understand
the language of a true blue bloke like Clancy
or the difference of ‘Sheila’ from a ‘Nancy’.
In Oahu and Hawaii with my ever-loving wife,
I’ve several times enjoyed a holiday.
My Mother haply joined us in the last years of her life.
At apartments in “Waikiki Shore” we’d stay,
swim, dine and drink or laze the days away.
All those far-off places haunt me and I can’t elude their call.
Oh, I wish that it were possible once more
to return to South East Asia or see Europe in the fall,
for my memories are like an open door
through which I glimpse what, long ago, I saw.
But my urge to travel really now is just for idle talk.
Ten score steps is quite the farthest I can roam
and you cannot travel anywhere without you need to walk
and, as I’d now have to travel on my own,
I might as well just settle here at home.
Hugh Wyles, September 10th. 2009.
Author notes
Just a bit of nostalgia brought on by the visit of a friend from Los Angeles CA.
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I can envision your travel trunk of memories covered with colorful destination stickers from so many wonderful and exotic places.
I'm still hoping for more and distant travel but for now it will have to wait.
Thanks for sharing your recollections in your signature poetic form.
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Ah from LA. I never did get that far south during my two years in California. I did get to San Fran on a few occasions. And yep, that's about it for me...never been out of the 48 though I expect to one day.
You've been a lot of places Hugh, I envy you.
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Nostalgia at its best!
Before I saw the word in 'Author notes' the word "nostalgia" had come to me, taking me years back to healthier days and my own trips to St Lucia's volcano and beaches where natives wore woolly winter hats and scoffed at Canadians swimming in the sea in winter! Bermuda's bicycles came to mind, while we explored the length and width of the hilly island. And then there were the two weeks over Christmas in Germany's Black Forest and in town, Lahr, where they rolled up the sidewalks on such a holiday, but the Autobahn took us to Paris, with its ancient cathedrals, and my knowledge of French was easy and respected... Yes, this poem took me back, feeling lucky to have known at least this much!
In Canada I have lived as a child north of Vancouver, mostly in Ontario and Quebec between to the several years in East Coast's Newfoundland, Gander where I taught all the high school French in the mornings and in afternoons on a tight schedule, team-taught Art as in-service teacher training in Gander Academy's dozens of classrooms grades 1 to 12. Memories of them all. As you see, the nostalgia in this marvel of a poem built on some of my own.
Thank you for the travels!
Terry
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What a wealth of memories
you have. so much you can call on for inspiration when writing your poetry.
The TV is my means of seeing some of these places, not at all the same as experiencing them first hand. Too late for me now of course -- too late for many things but I have my home hubby and health, priceless..
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Memories are wonderful
Dear Hugh, You certainly have traveled to many countries and I've been lucky enough to see slides of some of the places when I've been to your place. What pleasures we shared with Sharon as she enjoyed them with us. And when you visited Australia and you went on your trip to the Blue Mountains you were not far away from my place, as your bus whizzed up the freeway it was just two streets away, but we never knew each other then.
Wonderful memories you have of all the places you've been.
Love Bea
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The enchantment of home
can warm the heart, especially
with the globe encompassing
travel of your past, Hugh.
Your tale sparks the imagination,
although I know the destinations
only from film and photo.
But I am happy and fulfilled
at home, sweet home!
A remarkable, wonderfully poetic story!!!!!
M-C
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Nice memories
Been I have to South-East Asia
So many years ago
To China and Formosa too
Back when I had no dough
The Philippines was quite a time
Then Thailand and Japan
But never got Australia’s way
But tried since I began
I lived in Deutschland for some time
And traveled all around
I’ve been to England, traveled some
When they still used the pound
I’ve lived in many of the States
In middle I am found
But soon would like to really say
New Zealand I am bound
Liked your write, Doctors! They sure know how to screw up a life.
Jim
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Dear Wandika,
Yea! Philippines and Thailand each cast individual spells
but China I remember mostly for its awful smells. (Phewww!)
Ah! Alt Sud-Deutschland ist sehr schon und etwas in der Nord
but, nowadays, I wonder whether I could still afford.
In UK prices, to a Kiwi, make but little sense -
what we buy for a dollar here, there costs a hundred pence!
The one commodity I found no need its price to watch,
was that great elixir of life: A bottle of good Scotch!
Thankyou for your well-versed comment. If you should realise your dream and land in Aotearoa, don't miss Christchurch/S.I. and phone 942 3535.
You will find a warm welcome.
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