Out of Texas

After living in Texas for many years, I drove out of it in the summer of 2021, toward a new home on a faraway land.

 

Out of Texas

 

 

Goodbye, Texas.

Goodbye, your endless plain and rolling hills.

Goodbye, your hurricanes

that hurried through your coastal town

which I temporarily called my permanent home.

 

Goodbye, days evaporated in your red hot summers,

days frozen in unexpected ice storms

that turned a winter wonderland deadly,

days smoked like a barbecue in between,

mild Fall and pollens infested Spring.

 

All lost as I visited this part of the blue planet

as an alien who has been trying to

speak and write in a foreign language

as good as he can be.

I have a long way to go,

longer than longhorns' long history

on this cowboys' land.

 

My words are short and broken into line by line.

You would still understand me

like the moon understands a lone star

between land and sky.

I have nothing against you,

but my roots set off to seek another land.

 

Goodbye, Texas.

I didn't bring anything here.

I am taking away nothing.

 

In the morning twilight,

grass leaves hold back shiny tears.

Over the years I have learned how to do the same.

 

I am leaving.

Has NASA JSC detected my departure?

Static hissing.

I roger that and blast off.

 

【七律】出得州记 （三首）

 

2021年夏，驾车离开生活工作了多年的得克萨斯，向着远方的新家，一路向西向北。

 

其一

 

再见常常是永诀，当时如晓胆肝裂。

黎明晖草泪为珠，傍晚尘沙马作铁。

四野风轮去又回，八荒雾霭凉还热。

苍穹之下有孤星，谷谷丁丁飘似雪。

 

其二

 

谷谷丁丁似雪飘，如烟往事与风销。

银车飞走残阳落，牛仔奔驰暮霭烧。

州内行时双日短，天涯终处一庐遥。

轻言再见无人应，静电滋滋更寂寥。

 

其三

 

静电滋滋更寂寥，乡歌萦耳到今朝。

白云朵朵空间站，飞艇艘艘天下飘。

江北风来埃及野，摩西人去气冲霄。

良辰好景难辜负，此去经年路远迢。

 

自注：

（1） 孤星，得克萨斯称为孤星之州，The Lone Star State.

（2） 谷谷丁，蒲公英的别称。

（3） 摩西，mall的西边。

 

(© Feb. 29, 2024, godog)