The Homecoming

The Homecoming

The gentle old lady stood amongst the crowd,
Jostled about yet tall and proud,
Crowds milled and spilled, pushed and shoved,
Yet there was quiet joy and some laughter heard.

The sun shone bright and strong,
Although all around them destruction lay,
The ravages of war had razed the town,
And laid it bare, empty and brown.

Once tall towers lay crumbled in the dust,
The people looked hungry and tired with thirst,
In the streets, empty eyes peered from frozen faces,
This had become a town of despairing gazes.

The streets now knew only men and women old,
No tall sprightly young men walked the roads,
Ghost town of the aged or very young,
Seemed to cry out to every one.

But today there was cheer and mirth,
As fathers and mothers waited for the ship to berth,
The war had been won long at last,
Their beloved boys would be home real fast.

Music filled the pier as the ship drew near,
The old lady's eyes filled with tender fear,
With anticipation and joy she sought
The beloved face of her son the ship had brought.

War had ended, peace reigned,
He would be home safe and sane,
His youth cut short would soon resume,
It's journey through life's lovely hues.

To the dances he would go, his mother smiled,
Every pretty girl would with him wish to fly,
Handsome and tall he would run to her,
She dreamt this all as the ship drew near.

He ran not into his mothers arms,
This young man caught in life's cruel chance,
For peace, he had paid a heavy price,
As on a crutch he struggled down the aisle.

But hope lay bright and clear in his eyes,
As he saw his mother standing tall and upright,
Though War had claimed its unfair toll,
Yet the spirit in him reigned supreme and bold.

~ Glowing Embers ~

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