This Time, You Come To Me Poem by Frank V. Gardner

This Time, You Come To Me

Rating: 3.1


All through our lovely married life
I've had to go away.
And it was always you, my dear,
Who was back home to stay.

It wasn't my own choosing,
But the Government, which said
That I must leave my family,
And sacred marriage bed.

The FBI was first to pry
Our soothing arms apart.
And, each time I returned to you
With ever swelling heart.

The Foreign Service, next, attempted
Separate our arms.
But I was not to be denied,
Returning to your charms.

I came back to you every time,
From places I can name:
Tegucigalpa, Honduras....
Pronounce it just the same.

Then 'international conferences'
Descended on our life.
The separations that resulted
Could have brought some strife.

The OAS had quite a meet,
In seventy and four:
The farthest from you I had been,
Yes, Quito, Ecuador.

And that same year Geneva had
Some orientation;
Then on to Spain to bring our daughter,
Karen, 'home in one.'

The 'Law of Sea' then intervened
In seventy and five.
Considering that travel,
How did our love stay alive?

Again it was Geneva with
One month between our touch;
But you have that memento in
A lovely pendant watch.

Ensuing year, the 'Law of Sea'
Did do us in again,
By interrupting annivers'ry
Five and ten and ten.

The time I spent in New York town,
One hundred fifty days,
Had left me spinning like a top,
And kept me in a daze.

In seventy and seven it was
'Law of Sea' once more;
But, just to help with my replacement:
Help him keep the score.

So, three short trips up to the 'Apple, '
Only ones I had.
In retrospect, then, I must say,
That year was not so bad.

And now the year is seven-eight;
Again, it's 'Law of Sea.'
Again, I'm in Geneva but
This time you come to me.
Before, I've always gone away,
And you, the one to bide.
This time you close the distance,
And, my feelings, I can't hide.

You've come a long way, Gerry, and
May our reunion be
The best that it has ever been:
This time you come to me.


(May 1978, Geneva, Switzerland)

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Mary Nagy 09 January 2006

What a reunion that must've been! What a love story! This is beautiful. You and your wife are an inspiration. Sincerely, mary

1 1 Reply
Josey Alfred 12 May 2015

Very sweet poem, in spite of all those short breaks, your affection endured with good strength. I like the two lines the best. And each time I returned to you With ever swelling heart. relly enjoyed it, thanks for sharing.

0 0 Reply
Birgitta Abimbola Heikka 10 April 2014

Lovely poem. Very heart warming. In Stanza 5, line 2, did you mean “from places I can’t name: ” Like the way you write the years; especially, five and ten and ten (makes one think) . Don’t know what you mean by the sentence “left me spinning like a top.”

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Cat Hodgson 10 April 2014

It is sad when one has to leave family to make a living, Done too often. I job is always the third person... Good writing, it seems like there is a reunion that is good.. Cat

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Savita Tyagi 10 April 2014

This bond of love and marriage is an inspiration. Wonderful write.

1 0 Reply

The close affection and love of the poet to his family but the limited opportunity to live together seems to be the theme behind the poem and shows the difficulties of a responsible officer who is bound to live away from his home long time on account of his official responsibilities. The poem is written well to understand to a reader in its spirit.

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