A renewing, inspiring vacation on one of North Ontario’s lakes. The depressing drive home in south-bound bumper to bumper traffic on HIghway 400. In “Weary-Eyed Travellers” I wanted to capture the contrast between a lovely, much needed time in nature and the inevitable return to the pressures and expectations waiting at home and at work.
Deep and dark the forest embraced me for a tie
Maples and birches and pine
Marshy reeds and handpicked bouquets of weeds
Cliffs above the timberline
Once again it’s time to join the traffic south
Bumper to bumper blinding lights
Every good thing must end, we tell ourselves
Weary-eyed travelers in the night
Soft and clear the water laps against the shore
Washing the footprints away
In the West the sun sets with a golden glow
Burning away the silver day
Once again it’s time to join the traffic south
Bumper to bumper blinding lights
Every good thing must end, we tell ourselves
Weary-eyed travelers in the night
Crying kids wet fire pits tents packed in the car
Dying embers water doused
Already thoughts of working days intrude
Forgotten tensions aroused
Once again it’s time to join the traffic south
Bumper to bumper blinding lights
Every good thing must end, we tell ourselves
Weary-eyed travelers in the night
© Peter Slofstra • 1978 • Parry Sound, Ontario