long gone

so long
gone and
going
past and
moving on
so long
gone to
great cities
and lonely
women
waiting
forever for
their love
to come home
so long
gone again
past the
migration
with ease
against winter
skies and
heroic days
so long
gone and
going past
barbed wire
fences and
forms littered
with glum faces
so long and
nice to have
known you
and yours
don't take
it personally
if I don't
come around
so long
gone and
growing out
of restrictive
spaces
so long
running
from the
days and
nights, hot
with sweat
and sour
tongues
so gone
that you've
forgotten
yourself
in the
mix -
so long
gone and
driving to
nowhere
and back
just to
catch a
glimpse
of yourself
going
farther
so long
and thank
you for
letting
me live
so long
gone and
going as
far away
as I can
travel
so long
and
given to
the past
asking for
forgiveness
so long
to living
in the
now
when
'the then'
has got
you
cowering
in the
corner
so long
gone to
small towns
once you've
figured out
that the
cities only
help you
to die
so long,
farewell
to a more
innocent time
when you
didn't have
to watch
your
children
every second
for fear of
molestation
so long
gone and the
fear of
watching
your back
for someone
trying to stab
you
so long
to days
gone by
and joy
and love
and the
reassurances
given
so long to
the great
ones that
escaped
before it
was too
late -