Going Home

Every day the father longed to see
His lost son come back to the family
Looking out in despair his heart would yearn
hoping each day that his lost son would return

His son had taken his inheritance
and left without even a backward glance
To spend his great fortune and have some fun
was the intention of this youngest son

Wasting time in riotous revelry
Living life in sin and debauchery
and gaining many friends through his great wealth
singing and dancing and enjoying himself

But then the time came to this sons dismay
when his money began to drain away
Then all of his friends just left him alone
To cope with life's struggles all on his own

Then when a severe famine came his way
he took a job just to survive each day
Feeding the swine, but he wanted to fill
His poor empty stomach with the pig swill

Cold and miserable in his dismay
He thought of his family far away
"Look, here I am starving to death," he said
"Whilst my father's servants are being fed"

Famished and penniless and all alone
off back home went this poor Prodigal Son
But his father saw him so far away
and ran out to meet him along the way

For all the time the son had been away
The father had looked out for him each day
Seeing his son was a wonderful sight
bringing to the father so much delight

"Father I have sinned and I don't deserve
To be your son so I have come to serve
Please forgive me and take me on I pray
as one of your hired servants from this day"

"Kill the fatted calf and let's celebrate,"
The father said, because the news was great
"For my son has returned back from the dead
Come and clothe him with the best robe," he said

His older brother could not understand
The reason why the party was so grand
"Father I have always been good," he said
"Why didn't I have a party instead?"

"My son all that I have belongs to you
and you could party when you wanted to
But this, my younger son I thought was dead
has now been returned back to me," he said

This poem was a finalist in the October 2014 poetry contest