Homesickness by Michael Rosen
Jan 09, 2021, 06:00 PM
'On the Move. Poems about Migration' by Michael Rosen, page 112, (Walker Books)
Once upon a time I was in a story
where I met an invisible thing
where I met an invisible thing
who said that I could have one wish
and I said that my wish was that
and I said that my wish was that
I could go back to the place and time
I miss the most
I miss the most
and the invisible thing said that I could.
But:
But:
though I could go back to the place
could never go back to that time.
could never go back to that time.
Then I pleaded with the invisible thing
and said, "Please can it be both,
and said, "Please can it be both,
the place and the time?"
And the invisible thing said,
Very well I could,
And the invisible thing said,
Very well I could,
but if I did go back to that place and time,
I must promise not to speak to anyone
in that place.
in that place.
"What will happen if I do?" I said
and the invisible thing said that
and the invisible thing said that
if I did, I would never get back to now.
I agreed and in a flash
I was there and then
I was there and then
in that place and in that time:
It was winter
there were my friends,
the ice on the pond was thick enough
to carry them sliding and shouting
all morning
to carry them sliding and shouting
all morning
and we felt the ice with our fingers.
Then it was spring:
the birds in an orchard whistled
through the blossom
through the blossom
and I brushed a branch with my fingers.
Then it was a summer evening, just a gust of wind
raised dust in the alley where my friends kicked a ball
raised dust in the alley where my friends kicked a ball
I was in goal and the ball smacked my hand till it stung.
Then it was autumn
and we lined up in rows in silence
waiting for orders to walk in single file to class
and I touched the shoulders of the boy in front.
and I touched the shoulders of the boy in front.
But I didn’t speak to anyone.
And then I was at a station
waiting for my mother to come home
from work.
from work.
the trains rolled in and out
and when the woman in the kiosk
asked me if I wanted some sweets
I remembered not to answer her
asked me if I wanted some sweets
I remembered not to answer her
and another train pulled in, the doors
opened and I could see my mother
step down on to the platform
opened and I could see my mother
step down on to the platform
and when she reached me,
she put her arm round me
and said, "There’s no need for you
to wait for me here, you’ve got a key,
you can let yourself in
you can let yourself in
why don’t you go home?"
And I shrugged and said, "I like waiting
here…"
here…"
And she held my hand.
And the invisible thing whispered
in my ear,
in my ear,
"You’ve spoken."
"I know I have," I said.
"You’ll be here for ever and ever,"
it said.
And I said,
"But you’re just an invisible thing in a story.
I can decide what I’ll do.
I can decide what I’ll do.
You can’t rule over me.”
And the invisible thing laughed.
"You’re right. You’re totally right
and I am wrong.
"You’re right. You’re totally right
and I am wrong.
You will be able to get back."
I laughed too
I laughed too
And I said,
"And I will be able to come here again."
But the invisible thing spoke again:
But the invisible thing spoke again:
"You’re right about it all,
but for one thing."
"What’s that?" I said.
but for one thing."
"What’s that?" I said.
"Yes, you can travel to and fro
between here and there,
between then and now
between here and there,
between then and now
just as you want.
But without me,
But without me,
when you go to the place and time
that you miss the most
that you miss the most
you won’t be able to touch anything.
Not a thing."
Not a thing."