Homebound Poem by Phan Thanh gian

Empty hearted, mind full of grievous sorrows
Soul wrecked by howling cold, its merciless tolls
My dry tongue is foreign to its muffled ears
Eyes gawking homeward now blurred with years of tears

Only once in my dream, had I been Home
T'was a familiar hug, in mom's embrace I roamed,
My playful inner child basked in hazy summer breeze
Never ever since, this home-longing ache ever appeased

Why, to go away was such a high price to pay!
Has anyone ever warned the soon to be departed to stay?
More wretched are those who long to return,
For they seek to step twice in the same river's churn.