A villanelle to my travelling heart

Written on my boat Parvathi, 2010


I’m on the move to catch a mountain breeze,
I spend a life eternal on a plane,
When I come home my heart is more at ease.

The dusty, hot roads cause me to sneeze,
The weather changes quickly into rain,
I’m on the move to catch a mountain breeze.

If I get up high the world starts to freeze,
I meet with strangers on slow moving trains,
When I come home my heart is more at ease.

The dancing and the music aims to please,
But interest in the tourist haunts I feign,
I’m on the move to catch a mountain breeze,

The old rucksack is packed so they don’t see,
My shower gel, camping knife or cane,
When I come home my heart is more at ease.

In this short life I’ve had too many journeys,
The fun, the wild, the dull but not insane
I’m on the move to catch a mountain breeze,
When I come home my heart is more at ease.