A Hobo Comes Home
For Christmas
The tree was all decorated,
The snow softly falling outside.
Christmas time again, and all seemed well,
Then my spirits began to slide.
Memories came flooding back
Of Christmas carols and under mistletoe kissing.
There were lots of things to be thankful for,
But someone was always missing.
I didn’t want to think about the past.
God knows the present slips by so fast.
But as I watched the train beneath the tree,
I heard a far off voice calling to me.
I am your father, it seemed to say,
And, I loved you, even though I went away.
You see, I was a traveling man, and
When things got hard, I got up and ran,
To my friends, Topeka, Biloxi, and Cincinnati Slim, for
A hobo’s life is lived on a whim.
All those years I wanted to forget.
The pain was so great.
The anger worse yet.
But time has a way of healing our pride,
And for the first time in my life
I wanted to hear his side.
I have so many questions, The answers I lack,
Like, Why did you leave and never come back?
You didn’t write or send money to buy us new shoes.
You just played your harmonica and sung the blues.
Were you ashamed? What were your fears?
You left such a void all of those years.
I learned not to expect anything from you.
Children find ways to adapt.
What else can they do?
But today I’m not feeling anger so much.
I just have been wondering, how was your life, and such?
Did you carry a hobo knife and cook hobo stew?
What were you like?
I never knew you.
I would have liked to have a father who held me,
And read me stories, and bounced me on his knee.
A father who was strong and brave and true.
That’s what I dreamed of, but
Where were you?
Did you ever miss me on Christmas day?
Did you ever once think of coming home? Of finding a way?
I remember harmonicas and Juicy Fruit gum, carousels, and country
songs, but
Never once heard your “Well done!”
Did you ever once think of putting a gift ‘neath the tree?
A doll perhaps? Or a puppy for me?
You missed many things.
My life passed you by.
But today, I discover, as I sit here and cry,
Yesterday isn’t forever.
So I open my heart.
I welcome you in. Come in, be a part.
Be a part of my life.
Be a part of my day.
Just for this Christmas,
I invite you to stay.
By: Darlene Eberhardt
