The Traveler

"Bíonn siúlach scéalach"

(pronounced "Bee-on shoo-luck shkay-luck")

Which translates to "The traveler has many stories"

— Irish Proverb

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As we sit around watching TV

Allowing our dinners to settle

No sooner did we get comfortable

Before we heard a tapping at the door.

Getting up, I went to answer the knock

Lo, I was surprised to see who stood there

For standing on my porch in his traveling gear

Was none other than the storyteller

With new stories to tell.

Welcoming him in,

He greeted Mother and the children

Each in their turn

Inviting him to sit, I offered him some barley rum

To help loosen his tongue

For we were all excited to hear of the deeds he had done

Mother turned the TV off, and the children all gathered around

To listen to what this traveler had to share

He told of his adventures on the seven seas

Then he went on to speak of his visit to Azbuktu

He mentioned his stay with the King

of some hidden rainforest temple,

That he found when he went to the Amazon

He told us of all his adventures

In return, all he needed was a hot meal and a warm bed

We stayed up late, listening to this modern-day bard

Hearing of all that he had to share with us

On this late summer night

When he had completed his tales

Mother and I carried the children to their beds to tuck them in

Returning to the den, I drank another rum shot with the traveler

He told me about the politics in foreign lands

Of the wars fought for one cause or another

He filled me in on the happenings worldwide

All before he went to bed.

The following day, after breakfast, the storyteller was on his way,

Returning us to our daily lives.