Author Information
THE LETTER
I saw it there that morning
as it lay there in the tray
I didn't stop to read it
for I knew what it would say
He would say that he still loved me
he would say that he still cared
He would say that he was coming back
so get myself prepared
and this time it would be different
for it wouldn't be the same
This time it would be different
this time would be no game
I never even questioned him on things
he alwaya said
for I knew he really meant it
but he couldn't
for it was a wanderer's life he led
The whistle of an old freight train
would send him into fits
and he would pack up
that old and worn out duffle bag
and he'd be gone in just a bit
It was five years ago he left me
to roam o'er countries wide
he said he had to see the world
and for his freedom, then he cried
He said he had to see the mountains
he had to see the foaming sea
and when he got his roaming done
he'd be coming home to me
He said he was a rover
and he couldn't settle down
but when he got the urge to hit the road
he just couldn't stay around
There was sadness in his rugged face
and a fire within his soul
and when he felt,'the leaving in his heart'
he just let it take control
The wander lust just had him
and it wouldn't set him free
and he couldn't keep his feet still at night
for it wouldn't let him be
He went across the ocean
to France, to England and to Wales
he sent me back great souviners
and giant books of fairy tales
He had to see what was around the curve
he just had to go and see
he traveled to the deserts
to all the caverns, neath the sea
Then the letters they stopped coming
and I didn't hear a word
I didn't know where he was then
I never ever heard
It had been about a year then
and when the letter came
it was old and torn and ragged
and it was post arked, Spain
and he said that he was coming home
upon a shining plane
He said the date and time to meet him
but he never ever came
So I tried to go on with my life
for now I knew it could never be
for the wonder lust possessed him
and he never would be free
I saw it on the table
as it lay on there in the tray
I didn't choose to read it
for I knew what it would say
and it saddened me a little
for I knew his heart could not be found
and I couldn't keep on being, just his girl
for he never was around
Well, he came home this morning
in a coffin
and in a big black shiny hearse
and I couldn't keep from crying
for I always feared the worst
he had been killed in Denmark
from a wreck
a fastly moving train
and now he never knew he made it home
upon that shiny plane
but the smile I saw upon his face
gave such peace and hope for me
for the road on whch he traveled now
had set his spirit free
