The Adventurer

“Gone west” he says

“All of the gang?” I ask

“All gone, what do expect, after forty years”

“And the old street?” I ask

“Mostly gone west” he says

“The pub on the corner is still there

But I haven’t been there for years

Too many young people

Not what it was” he says

Too much grief

“And where did you disappear to?” he asks

(Suddenly becoming aggressive)

“Was this place not good enough for you?

Were the streets paved with gold

In the big city?”

“I meant no harm” I say

“I’m an adventurer,

I went looking for something else,

Something more interesting

Than what we had here”

“And how have you been?” I ask

“What happened to your plans?

Did your dreams come true?”

“Gone west”, he says

“All gone west”