Last lights wink out on this pale and sultry night.
Stars signal long past two AM. 
I feel the lateness in the hour 
and I’m fifty long years from home. 

new dawn glimmers. Time for a change of horses. 
It's time to chart new courses
and head for safer houses.
No more empty towers of this unholy Babylon.
Some four hundred thousand hours [bad word] and gone.

I smell, in the air, a new meadow morning.
Fresh-flowering grasses stirring 
and no pressure free-falling.
Thin mists to bring and light airs to call.

And we treasure all, all that we left behind us.
No pointed cold and dark regrets.
No nameless blame to lay.
Resolute, the optimist, I ride fresh horse and spur it on.
Four hundred thousand hours [bad word] and gone.