When You Finally Return For "Home" Again Poem by RIC BASTASA

when you return from that long journey
i will invite you for a sumptuous dinner
and while we eat i will tell you again
the story about us.

there were five of us, young once, in that
yard inside the school, and we were not yet confused
about what to do with our lives, but we were already
imbued with that kind of idealism of heroes who
like to say that we are never afraid to die in the
name of our people and to fight for the
love of our land.

two of them died, and three of us are left to live.
you went to England, the other left for america
while i stayed in this country of mine.

i may ask you if by now you detest your own people.
if by now you have also learned to hate this country
and tell yourself that i am happier now away from home.

the beer here is still the best and yet the cheapest.
just like those women that you love and parted with.