Homecoming

All the eyes fixed on the door
Waiting for him to give a knock
Every year when he returned
He bowed to his father
Hugged his mother
Patted the brother
Some running behind the sister
There were presents, for one and all
And then he'd lay, on the floor
The eyes gleamed
With all the tales yet to tell
His life events held them in spell
It had been years
And he was now to come home
There won't be bows
Or hugs, or pats
Or any running around
They were waiting for the tales to unfold
But they didn't wait
For the present-filled-bag
Because they knew
This time he'd come
Wrapped in the flag.