two thousand miles and
twenty four hours away
a return to ancestral ground
dark black earth scent
green upon deeper green
still in my head
no matter how much
the desert dries my brain
old friends remain
and we will gather in our
dwindling numbers and
raise a glass to those who
have gone before and
to days that lie ahead

music will be made
in familiar haunts
to familiar faces and
in unknown places
to the new friends
we find there...