There are days when the hobo lifestyle beckons; that's most likely because I've never been a hobo; at least, not in this life.

Hobo Heaven

Tonight,
It's hobo heaven
On the way out of town,
Near the railway trestle
Where wandering men will while away the night.
 
On the river bank
The campfire crackles,
Sending erratic shooting stars into the night sky,
Highlighting the wrinkled faces
Of these usually sombre, homeless men.
 
But there is no gloom within their hearts tonight,
No, for tonight is hobo heaven:
There's a big convention in town
And the law will be too busy to bother the bums.
What's more, "Applejack" O'Hare's come into a little cash.
No one here knows how and you don't meddle into another man's affairs;
But he's got family in town,
And every now and then, when they've heard that he's around,
Someone feels guilty,
Although "Applejack" doesn't know why.
Sometimes it comes in handy;
Like tonight,
When he can share his namesake
And help to warm the hearts of his nomadic friends,
And give them a hint of hobo heaven.
 
The river sings,
A night bird calls,
A light breeze carries scents from the river and the cooling land.
 
The night is perfect:
Friends,
Fellowship,
Fine wine (any wine is fine, thank you),
A toothless grin from "Gumsy" Jake,
Between bursts of memory-stirring melodies from his harmonica.
 
Too bad it will all have to end with dawn;
But for now,
It's hobo heaven.
 
 
© Copyright 2006 Regis Auffray