The Brown Leather Atlas I.P.

After he died, I had to go through his things,
there wasn’t a lot; no jewellery, no rings
and yet he once told me, he’d sat down with kings
and seen wonders that some men would die for.

His wardrobe and cupboards were piled high with space,
what little there was had its own private place;
it was then that I found the old worn leather case
and there really was no way to ignore!

It had started out its life as a plain brown trunk
but now it just looked like some colourful junk;
in baggage lifestyle, it was hippy or punk!
It could never be described as boring.

There were pictures and stickers, emblems and flags,
an atlas of continents, painted on tags,
wonders you might consider - when found on bags,
a strange place to choose for their storing.

I knew that he’d travelled for it was his boast
‘I’ve travelled more countries, from coast to coast
than you’ve had hot dinners, coffee or toast;
I’d put to shame, old Marco Polo!’

Well...his travelling had all but now come to a stop,
just one more journey; long haul or hop
and there was no sticker to buy in a shop
for this would be one way and solo!