Journey to Embarkation

Daejeon, South Korea

September 21, 2010; revised May, 2014

Midnight rains have stopped for now

and veils of mist envelop trees. Soft

textures of darkness hover beyond

        the pale reach of streetlight

that bathes the last bus stop

                out of Daejeon.

Late night truths come veiled in signs.

A white dog emerges from shadow,

makes his mark then passes on

        and leaves me emptied

on the path of pilgrims now

                at peace with night.

Though dawn lies distant, far beyond

my closed horizons bright midmorning

showers light, I must have faith  

        for here I am, wayfaring

stranger, watching forms

                in drifts of fog.

Too soon the rains will return

and the lullaby tap of wipers

will sooth intermittent sleep

        through the last

empty hours of night

                in a far country,

And my bus will plow steady

to causeway’s end

beyond the mudflats

        where sea and sky

merge, gray and indistinct

                at Incheon.

My brothers, we are bodies

becoming spirit, forever drifting 

mid-transit. We are always

        awaiting embarkation.

We have always already

                arrived.