Herschel was known by all as a good and honest man,
No matter what the job, he said, "I'll do the best I can!"
When, finally, Herschel reached retirement -- good for he,
Herschel said to friends and all, "At last, life is about me!"

His dream was to drive a motor home (RV), not big, no,
But big enough for all the stuff to give a comfy go
To wherever he would want to be, to experience there
How those people live, what they think, laugh at or care.

Ever have a dream like Herschel's? Do you ever want to do
Just what you want, when you want, make it all 'bout you?
Don't we all have moments when we wish for full control,
When finally it is about "me, myself before I get too old!"

Ah, Herschel found and bought his dream, his personal RV,
Then drew his map charting his course from sea to shining sea.
He stowed his food and drink, clothes, toiletries and pills,
Carefully covering all possible weather, challenges and ills.

Finally! Launch day arrived! Time for his dream cruise!
"I am the Captain now, where and when I go, I choose!"
Good-byes to family, friends and gawkers who just starred,
He pulled out, waved, and off to adventures that he dared.

He saw new mountains, new beaches, even new peoples,
New buildings, new roads, new churches with new steeples.
He saw new ways to do old things, and old things sold for new.
He saw many happy things. Sad things? Maybe just a few...

One day as he drove along slowly, he thought he heard a honk;
"Was I going too slow? Was I over the line about to get a bonk?
Was I going the wrong way or, maybe I heard somebody who,
Having a bad day, just had to say, "Hey, I'm honking at you!"

Herschel drove on. Down many miles, to a quiet village, when
He slowed to look, but as he did, he heard that "Honk" again!
Oh my, sighed Herschel, what is so wrong with me or my RV?
Why am I getting honked at here, now? Why must this honking be?

Weary and confused, Herschel retreated to sleep the night,
His adventure now hijacked by honking: "That just isn't right!"
"But, when I sleep, I hear no honking. When I sleep, I snore.
When I sleep, maybe the honker will leave so I'll hear him no more!"

With dawn's first light came optimism, "Has the honker passed?"
Herschel pulled out slowly, quietly, into the road, then the blast:
"Honk. Honk!" Herschel angrily jumped from his RV into the street,
"Who are you, honker? Come out, honker, it's you I want to meet!"

Peering in all directions, up and down the road, no honker found.
"I'll get a better view from on high", so up the ladder he bound.
Reaching the top of his RV, "I'll see that honker now, I bet!"
Indeed, he did, but to his surprise, "Honk" from his cargo net...

A tangled, tired, old goose there, when he saw the man, "Honk" he
In fear, but Herschel said, "Don't be scared, I will set you free.
You must have gotten caught as I toured by that pond where
I remember seeing many geese like you. I will take you there."

Herschel turned his rig around, toward the pond many miles away,
The old goose now riding "shotgun": what a great old goosie day!
Oh, the honking from all the geese as the RV reached the pond.
Herschel knew the goose was home, but forever now, a bond.

A cacophony of honks as the old goose flapped into his crowd
But, turned and honked a "Thank You" honk -- it was really loud!
Herschel realized in his own new freedoms, he hadn't really changed:
That what feels best is helping others, the "old Herschel" yet remained!


The End