The Prodigal Son

[TheBarrd]

Part I
The Son

The pleasures of the flesh are calling

His young heart stops to listen

A siren song his ears enthralling

A dream of lips that glisten

A little wine to ease his heart

A little song to make him merry

Arms that open, thighs that part

His misgivings he will bury

His passion and his money spent

He awakens all alone

No swaying breasts, no flashing hips

His companions all are gone

"Why?" he cries to cold deaf ears

He's homeless, cold and hungry

"No one cares, no one hears

The city is heartless and lonely!"

He thinks of the family he left behind

He thinks of the hearts he left broken

What kind of welcome could he find

When no goodbyes were spoken?

And now, with nowhere else to go

His thoughts toward home keep turning

To face a future he doesn't know

At the prodigal's returning.​

 

[TheBarrd]

Part II
The Father

He sits at the window, a broken man

Forgotten, gray and old

Remembering the touch of a tiny hand

As memory grows cold

Listening in silent dread

As if all hope were gone

For the old familiar tread

The old familiar song

Oh, where, oh where is the little boy

Where my darling one?

What happened to the boundless joy

My precious, long lost son?

Has he forgotten home and family

Now that he is grown?

The father's love, the mother's kiss

Has he left us all alone?

Noisy rooms gone quiet now

No need to shout, "Behave!"

No merry laughter, no prayers to hear

All is quiet as the grave.

Is he lost? Or is he dead?

Oh, how his heart is yearning!

His deepest, his most earnest prayer

For the prodigal's returning.​

 

[TheBarrd]

Part III
The Homecoming

There, on the deserted road

A figure walks alone

Bent as if by a heavy load

His weary steps toward home

And, there, in the window, a head comes up

And unbelieving tears

Come coursing down the withered cheek

Forgotten, the bitter years

"Father!" comes the timid voice

"My son!" the joyous cry

"My lost child, you're home at last!

A happy man am I!"

"My Father, I am sorry

For all the wrong I've done"

"My child, all is forgiven.

Welcome home, my son!"

The hillside echoes their joyous cries

As angels dance about the pair

They look into each other's eyes

And see the love reflected there

Forgotten, all the lonely years

Forgotten, temptation's burning

Forgotten, the sorrow; forgotten, the tears

At the prodigal's returning.
​

 

[TheBarrd]

Part IV
The Jealous Brother

"Now, let us kill the fatted calf!

And let the guests arrive!

For he who was lost is now found

He who was dead, alive!"

Now, as the feast was carried out

With generous libation

With merry laughter, joyous shouts

And wondrous celebration

Another son, in agony

Was watching, all alone

"My father has forgotten me

Me, his loyal son."

"My son, my son", his father said

"Come, now, let's rejoice!

For he's alive, who once was dead!

Now, hearken to my voice!"

"For him you kill the fatted calf

For me, what have you done?"

"Why, everything I have is yours

My faithful, loving son."

He wouldn't see, he wouldn't hear

His heart, with jealous churning

Would not accept his father's joy

At the prodigal's returning.​

 

[TheBarrd]

Part V
The Moral

And now, in sorrow, our Father waits

And watches from above

As we follow the wicked siren's song

His heart breaks with His love

We chase our golden idols

We ignore His broken plea

We follow after every lust

Our hearts cannot be free

With ears gone deaf, and eyes gone blind

Allured by worldly pleasure

We close our hearts, we close our mind

Upon our greatest Treasure

The feast is ready, He paid the price

He extends a loving hand

Will we accept His sacrifice?

Oh, will we understand?

And will we share His happiness

As the lost ones stumble home?

Or seethe with inward bitterness

And wander off, alone?

He stands before the open gates

His heart, with patient yearning

And so our Father sadly waits

For the prodigal's returning.
​

©Deborah Anne Barrd
TheBarrd
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