Shirts, trousers and underwear,

Yes mom, I remembered.

Shoes, socks, a comb for your hair,

That too I recollected.

 

And don’t forget your bathers on your holiday.

Same with your Pajamas, your towel and your sheet.

And what about a sweater for that rainy day?

By the way, your coat won’t fit, you’ll just make do without it. 

 

And don’t forget your medication, disinfectant and repellent,

A book or two, a pack of cards, your camera, phone and compact flash. 

And just in case another pack or two of this and that,

And don’t forget your toothbrush, your passport and your cash.

 

And so the backpack and its packer reach their destination,

And on one day upon a climb with beads of sweat as testament.

Short of breath, with an aching back and on the verge of resignation,

The traveler comes to see a child’s eyes widen in amazement.

 

And as the child sees the man, he turns to ask his mother

What is this weight he is carrying that is heavier than man? 

And the mother smiles back and answers to her son, 

That is all that he posseses when he travels for the moon.

 

And looking at the smaller pack, the child asks once more

Of that small bag upon his side, what does he need that for?

That is what he takes to live on until morn.

But mother, all that I and you both have could fit into that bag.

 

And so the young man travels on with one more burden on his shoulder.