Oh Weary Traveler- A Story in Limerick

Life, as we know, is a journey.  We go through our precious few days trying to find happiness.  Some of us find it temporarily in people, money or things.  Others find it in God.  Whatever you try to find happiness in, though, there will always be difficult times in your life.  Times that you don't know if you can make it through.  Times that make you wish you had never been born.  This is a story about one of those times.

The idea for this actually came to me while reflecting on a particularly difficult time in my life.  Oddly enough, what came to mind during this reflection was the popular nursery rhyme "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," and this is the first poem in a collection I am currently working on that is based on the nursery rhyme.  The third stanza of the nursery rhyme mentions a traveler who has lost his way.  My story talks about me as the traveler trying to find his way again.

My choice in using limericks to tell the story has something of a double meaning.  During the 1800's, limericks were the most popular form of political attack add.  They were used to constantly make fun of people running for political office.  In a similar way, this mocking comes over in the story, to reflect how often people belittle our problems.  The other reason I chose limericks is because of their rhyme scheme- AABBA.  In non-poet lingo, the first, second and fifth lines of each limerick rhyme, while the third and fourth lines rhyme with each other.  Basically, this brings the end back to the beginning, and helps keep a focus on a central issue.  It reflects how hard it is for people to learn from and move on from their mistakes.

And so, I give you Oh Weary Traveler.
May you be spellbound,
Mortimer Micheals

Welcome back, oh weary traveler
You may find rest, but oh, not here
To find your heart
Tear yourself apart
And find what you know really mattered

Welcome now, oh weary traveler
For once, ignore the quarreler
Continue your quest
Fight it your best
And don’t let yourself be flattered

Well, come here, oh weary traveler
You made yourself a jeweler
To set your stone,
But wound up alone
And find your heart now, tattered

Well, come away, oh weary traveler,
Find yourself away from her
Discover the truth
Soon see the proof
That maybe your dreams aren’t shattered

Welcome home, oh weary traveler
Now you may finally rest here
To finish your days
Be happy through haze
Though you find yourself broken and battered