{"sf1_id":1705640,"sf2_id":"WelbpGnx","title":"Ballade on Leavetaking","author":"Rob MacWolf","words":173,"posted_at":"2021-04-11T18:22:00.000Z","tags":["Ballade","Poetry"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1705640-ballade-on-leavetaking","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/WelbpGnx","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/82/0b/820b9a98-8b1a-4458-a6f2-4a69dcffd960","description":"#31 of poetry\n\nI'll be in my sixties before I'll have spent more time out of long distance relationships than in them. And that's assuming that my long distance relationships all become non-long-distance tomorrow.","content":"I saw a hilltop, years ago  \nHalf-toppled with continuous gust,  \nAnd every time that breeze would blow-  \nThis is not boring you, I trust-  \nThe grass reached up in wanderlust  \nFor where the wind and I would track.  \nMy shoes still smell of that hill's dust,  \nSo that's why I'll be coming back.\n\nTo orchards, where the crimson plums  \nAre bursting with unearthly wine,  \nTo waterfalls where liquid drums  \nForever beat out seamless time,  \nTo cities underneath their grime  \nOn minarets or sunk in slums:  \nTo everywhere the sun does shine,  \nSo that's why I'll be coming back.\n\nAnd when I really say farewell,  \nIn twilight on some western shore,  \nWhen nobody has plans to tell  \nThe news about me anymore,  \nKnow this: we crossed this sea before.  \nThough my place lies beyond the black  \nIn this side lives what I adore,  \nSo that's why I'll be coming back.\n\nPrince, your hospitality  \nUpon this earth is all I lack.  \nYour welcome built a home for me,  \nSo that's why I'll be coming back.\n\n  \n\n  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"poetry","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1705633-haunted-ballade.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1709038-colony-collapse-disorder.json"}}