HOMECOMING
Mi saevi bainbai yu wetim long mi
I KNOW YOU WILL BE WAITING FOR ME
long wanples,
IN THE SAME PLACE,
hed bilong yu em i-stapim haf long haus bilong rod ayan,
YOUR HEAD HALF IN THE STATION HOUSE,
hors i-stap baek long yu, em i-saekim yu long dor.
THE HORSES BEHIND YOU, NUDGING YOU FORWARD,
Na olsem oltaim,
AND THAT AS ALWAYS
taim mi helo long yu, mi singawtim yu "Uncle",
DESPITE MY GREETING YOU, MY CALLING YOU UNCLE,
yu tokim mi yu no gat samting.
YOU WILL SAY NOTHING TO ME.
Na taim mi sidawn long haefsaid long yu,
AND AS ALWAYS, MY BODY BESIDE YOURS,
go haws bilong yu,
JOURNEYING HOMEWARD,
laen go awtsaid long mifela olsem tudark rivar,
THE OUTBACK STREAMING PAST US LIKE A DARK RIVER,
na hors lait long munmun long baeksaid,
THE HORSES’ BACKSIDES SHINING, DRIPPING MOONS,
mi no hirim singawt
THERE WILL BE NO SOUND
tasol singawt long mifela i-stap.
EXCEPT THE SOUND OF OUR OWN BREATHING.
Na bainbai taim fair bilong haus kamap
AND WHEN AT LAST THE FIRES RISE UP
olsem longwe starstar
LIKE DISTANT STARS
mi hirim tasol singawt bilong yu
THERE WILL BE ONLY THE SOUND OF YOUR VOICE
em i-kamap na fal.
RISING AND FALLING IN SONG,
em i-no gat frant, i-no gat ars.
A SONG THAT HAS NO BEGINNING, NO END,
Yet mi kichim tok long singawt yu sing.
A SONG I SOMEHOW UNDERSTAND,
Long wonam mi sing? Mi no saevi, Na mi sing tu.
A SONG NOT KNOWING WHY, I JOIN YOU IN.
JAN 27, 1939