The Visitor (All Five Parts.)

The snow is falling hard, a knock comes to my door.
I grab my robe off it's hook, and my slippers from the floor.
I walk down the hallway, wiping sleep out of my eyes.
And when the door is opened, I get a big surprise.

The man is my height, although he seems quite old.
I ask him to come in, find refuge from the cold.
He walks right to my chair, and sits down as I do.
He gives a heavy sigh, as if his life is through.

I ask if he is hungry, and a nod comes to his head.
He is looking at my bookcase, all the books that I've read.
I go into the kitchen, to round him up a bite.
I make some soup and sandwiches , to fill his appetite.

He gazes at my pictures, of my wife, and my kids.
I puzzle on his emotions, on his feelings that he hid.
I bring in his food, we enjoy silence as he eats.
I wonder about his circumstances, this man just looks beat.

Who could this old man be, who came knocking on my door?
Who sits in my chair, and walked across my floor?
When he finished he does rise, said thanks and leaves my home.
The snow has just stopped, and now I am alone.

2

G'nite Bill the bar keep said, as I pay my tab and leave.
Use to come here for fun, but now I come to grieve.
I lost my entire family, one bright and sunny day.
A sleepy trucker crossed the line, what else can I say?

I still reach out for my wife, first thing when I get up.
But she's not there to talk to, or bring my coffee cup.
I didn't feel like working, so I lost my job and home.
In fact I am homeless now, don't even own a comb.

Returning to the shelter, on this snowy winter night.
I walked past my old home, I noticed the old light.
I walked up to the door, before I knew it I had knocked.
A man answered in his robe, he looked surprised or even shocked.

He asked me to come in, so I did, and then sat down.
The memories came back so fast, as I sat and looked around.
He asked if I was hungry, what could I say but nod my head.
I saw his pictures on the wall, Then I remembered Jill was dead.

He brought tomato soup, and grilled cheese just like Jill.
I ate it all so fast, that it kind of made me ill.
So I finished eating, and got up, said thanks, and left our home.
The snow has stopped, and now I walk alone.

3

Boy that was tough, going back inside that place.
The emotions they were flowing, like a slap in the face.
I guess the snow has stopped, but I'm freezing still.
I'm feeling so damned empty, and smell like an old land fill.

Behind me cans do rattle, then I heard a "hey!"
"This is my block man, to walk here you have to  pay."
I said I had no money, but to him the point was moot.
"Then give me your warm coat, or maybe your new boots."

You ain't  gettin' nuthin', I've nuthin' left to give.
"Then you're gonna die, you ain't gonna live!"
Then he tried to stab me, his blade went for my gut.
But I just knocked him out, he landed on his butt.

I guess I should give up, and take my worthless life.
Because I lost my kids, my house, my job, and my lovely wife.
Oh God why did you leave me, when my life did hit it's low?
This is not the way, that I thought my life would go.

Then I saw a light, that said Jesus Saves.
On the shelter that I stayed at, it received lots of raves.
I went to my knees, and then began to pray.
"Hey" a guy hollerd. Need a job? I'm willing pay.

4

Now I've started working, in remodeling and home repair.
The work does keep me busy, keeps my mind off of my cares.
My boss is very skillful, his craftsmanship is high.
And every once in a while, I get a tool and a try.

I'm learning very quickly, doing some jobs on my own.
I'm building up my confidence, being trusted all alone.
I've done a couple plumbing jobs, patched a roof or two.
Yes my life is changing, from the turmoil I've gone through.

I'm sent out on a job, and I recognize the place.
Sent to my old home, and I recognize his face.
He remembers me also, I can tell by his reaction.
He watches me so close now, causing a distraction.

I guess you remember me, from that cold and snowy day?
He nodded his agreement, what was there left to say?
I explained I use to live here, was a good and solid buy.
I started to tell my story, I thought I saw him cry.

He said he found a picture, in the attic under dust.
It was a plain small painting, one they call a bust.
He asked me if I know him, I said yes and I was glad.
He said I thought you would, he was my great-grandad.

5

This man seems old and tired, but I know that it is more.
I felt a kindred spirit, on that night while at my door.
My father had a brother,They said that they had lost.
For years they tried to find him, ignoring all the cost.

But they never found him, even after Dad had died.
I wish that we were closer, I wish that he had tried.
But Dad was way too busy, to have a family.
The pain of his lost brother, Never set him free.

While he mourned all those years, I grew up and moved away.
He never came to visit, never came to stay.
Yes he missed my life, and my children's too.
All because he stayed away, There was nothing I could do.

But now I found my uncle, just standing at my door.
That homeless man all filthy, but when cleaned up he was more.
He looked just like my father, although he seemed quite older.
I went to him to tell him this, I found that I was bolder.

When I told him of his grandpa, he gave me such a scare.
He reached out to grab me, he hugged me cause he cared.
I asked if he would stay with us, he said yes he could.
God has answered all our prayers, Just like we knew he would .

by Sgt B (Viewed 308 times)