How Have You Been?

How have you been my darling children,

While I have been away in the west?

Though you are strangers,

I feel that I know you.

By the way that you treat me and offer to feed me and egarly ask if I'll stay for a rest.

Now sit yourselves down in a pile here before me.

I wish I had presents for each of your smiles.

I have been traveling,

without much to carry.

Just a broken guitar case with tape on the sides,

a bag and a few signs to help me get rides.

Here are some beads from a throat of a princess,

Who reigned in the years 'round 200 BC.

Divid them and wear them,

and make sure you share them.

Because I want you to have them in hopes that'll be,

as lovely as the lady who gave them to me.

Here is a strange European guitar string,

I found on the floor of a Club in Marselles.

It's fat for the third string and too skinny for the fourth string.

But I keep in hopes I may use it someday,

It's funny how people just keep things that way.

Here is a turtle from a Long Island Expressway.

Says that his home has been covered with tar.

So I gave him a ride on the back of my suitcase.

And he wants to stay here in your yard,

at long his life won't be quite so hard.

How have you been my darling children?