The Homecoming Part 1* Poem by Jim Milks

Left alone in the shadows, where the nightmares creep
Alone in this place to frightened to sleep.

Time passes and for him the war is done.
Away to his home, he shall now run

No peace shall he find in that quiet little place
Just confusion and sorrow on every single face

He so wants to tell them of the things they should know
About Billy and Bobby and even Little Joe.

He tells nothing of his time there, there is no one to confide
Of the horrors he has seen he keeps them locked inside

He hides in a bottle to silence the screams
Of the people that haunt all of his dreams

Fifty years now have gone past
And he thinks maybe now I can talk about it, at last

The tears come from nowhere they come in a throng
The hurt and the feelings are still so very strong

This is his homecoming,50 years to late
For this he has waited and now it is to late

* This is a rather personal story about my father, but also about myself and many other soldiers that have returned from wars. In particular is the part about the 50 years I remember quite clearly my entire life growing up my dad would only speak about shore leave in France, that is until I had my turn being shot at then we sat down and talked about what really happened over there and even 50 years later my dad cried about what he had seen. Anyway this part one of I don’t know how many parts but the story of my dad and me and others is to big for one poem, one style so when I think I have told enough the series will end. I hope you enjoy them until then.