Response to "Walking Home from Oak-Head"

I sit in the hall of a school or in the seat in the library
wandering about time. "How have I spent this time and
for what reason have I spent this time?" I ask myself.
I spend this time because I want to make good times later in life and ultimately in eternal life.

In these halls and in these chairs is where time seems to stand still.
Half of the time I don't know what time it actually is.
I do believe that time is meant to be spent observing its qualities.
This happens when one thinks back on all the good times he has had

or all the past failures that have affected his life. To think back on the good
and on the bad, is what brings my heart elation.
The funny thing is, is that these reminiscent moments are spent in nature
where like Oliver describes, it "brings out the lovely meaningless of time."

Why does time spent in nature have to be different than times spent in a library
or in a school hall, or in music, words, in the fires of the heart?
These times are all the same. Learning, watching, praying, listening are all ways that time is spent.
They all contribute to the walk home from Oak-Head, where home is the final destination of who we really are.

So the times, good and bad spent here on earth, on this long walk home
will seem like the world is falling apart
but no need to worry because waiting by the door
inside that warm log cabin

will be the lover a man who has been draggin'
draggin' with times on his back and in his head that have weighed him down
and still other times that have made his arrival worthwhile.
But it is kind of funny how all these memories might vanish

Because once I reach that warm place
and worship the one who made my face
new memories of streets of gold, angelic beings, and pearly gates
will replace all the times spent that I thought could never be erased.