TO COME HOME
(A Lament for a Child)
I wanted to come home
while your skin was soft as petals,
while your hair was soft and silken,
while you still prattled gaily -
Yes, I wanted to come home.
I did not come home
while your laugh still echoed softly
while your feet stamped time to wind songs,
while you clapped your hands in glee -
I did not come home.
I should have come home
before your eyes were shadowed,
before a gusty wind
blew out your flickering light -
O, I should have come home.
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