“Hey mom, I’m coming home in a couple of days,
My sergeant said I could,
It will be great to see you and dad
And catch up on all that‘s good.
I leave the day after tomorrow
My final assignment’s tonight
No I will simply be here in the barracks
They’ve taken me out of the fight.
Hey mom, don’t worry about me right now,
I am totally out of harms way,
I’m coming home in a couple of days
And everything will be ok.
Mom, don’t cry, it will be all right
I’ve already got my pass.
The plane is packed and my seat secured,
I’m coming home at last.”
Several days later the plane took off
And sure enough, John was on board,
The flight went smooth, no delays at all,
He was coming home once more.
We waited inside the lounge that day
As each of the soldiers came in,
He must have been the last one on,
Yet still no sign of him.
Then a voice on the speaker called our names
And we were relieved to hear
That John was already in baggage claim,
Waiting for us to pick him up there.
When we arrived at the baggage claim
It was difficult to find anyone
The place was packed with people
Embracing son after soldiering son.
A baggage agent finally approached
And asked who we were looking for
We told him, and he quickly checked his list
And said he’s down one more floor.
So down one more floor we went that day
And sure enough he was there
He came home like he said he would,
But in a casket with no fanfare.
A second after he had hung up the phone,
The barracks was torn by the blast.
The final words he had managed to say was
“I’m coming home at last.”
To all those who have lost their sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers or friends in war, my heart goes out to you. May God Bless you and comfort you in your time of sorrow and pain.
ron hampton, November 2004 – SDG
