To the West!

A long longing look down the highway An old stifled pain in my breast I must bide for awhile A season's exile That keeps me away from the West Away from the house on the mountain Away from the Tamarack pines Away from the wild I knew as a child Towards the prison to which I'm resigned I ache to drive towards the sunset Past the flowing gold grains of the plains Up steep mountain passes Through canyon crevasses To the West! and the spirit it retains There's no Westward journey before me All my travels take me the wrong way But in that one direction A magnetic connection Guarantees I'll return there one day