Come Back
Come Back
You used to come every night,
In my memories, in my eyes
Beside her, by the golden light.
With your husky voice, and mellow fingers
A candle that bid me goodnight.
Re-enacted with her, and danced with her fragrance,
Oh, how you cuddled me like a bear and tucked me in
Beside her soft face.
Waltzed till you appeared in my eyelids. Sung till your
Melody lit up my paradise.
Smothered cherry blossoms over me, as it whooshed
And flew, silkily swayed in the air, and ever so gently
Landed upon my warm body – condensed with joy
From your presence.
How every night you would appear with a glinting smile,
And whisk me away into the land of magic. Oh, how every night
You’d snuggle me by the yellow lampshade.
Until, one day,
With the stroke of twelve
You forgot. Your footsteps paced, earlier that morning.
My eyes so drowsy, couldn't draw your figure,
But I recall, she begged you to stay. You refused, but
You promised to be home before noon.
Thick, black smog. Shrieks and cries.
Blazing red fires. Crumpled buildings.
Perhaps frightened you, but you disappeared.
And she sobbed all day, all by herself. Locked up
In the cellar, clutching your portrait.
Oh, how you disappeared from her
Sullen red eyes. Oh, how you disappeared
From my perplexed eyes.
Strange adults brought home lilies, the kind
You liked. Hung them beside your portrait, and prayed before you.
Lit candles, sung psalms, but shed tears for hours
A day.
Could I not interpret them, but did I understand
Those men, at your workplace – the Trade Center,
Saddened your heart and soul.
What happened to the prince and
What happened to the princess,
Did I never know.
What did I know anymore?
But daddy, I wish to know the prince and
Daddy, I wish to know the princess,
For their life has just begun.
Whatever happened to
You, that you no longer come home. Whatever happened to
You, that you no longer bid me goodnight.
Behold my hand, behold my worship, behold
Our dreams. Oh, for wherever you may be, come back.