It is 5AM and the alarm buzzed me up
My eldest daughter turns and stretches as she arose from a deep slumber
As my wife calls out my name in
reassurance that I heard the alarm, I answered in affirmation
The dawn and prelude to another miserable and yet optimistic trip to the Americas has begun
Although awake, I closed my eyes once again in deep meditation and reflection
I thanked the Lord for the privilege
Of being with my loved ones for another stretch
I prayed for the courage for a less tearful goodbye, knowing fully well that nature will take its course
As they rose and woke each other one by one We knelt for a joint prayer
The only source of strength and hope
Even in my failed promises of staying longer
This is the struggle of many years
That always end in tearful goodbyes
Always leaving with the promise of a short absence that drags into months and sometimes years
It is the pain of living in two worlds
In search of greener pastures
And I ask, how long will this illusion linger
The sorting, searching and screeching of my suitcase rolled down the tears as I made my exit bidding goodbye to my wife and four young lads
Thus began the journey of thousands miles to the Americas, where the destination remains undefined
Oh Lord! Help me to suppress these painful tears of goodbye
From my personal memoir
Ike Agbatekwe
Editor @ Large
Life and Times News
Los Angeles, California
