by J. Andrew Reilly

Created on: December 30, 2009   Last Updated: January 01, 2010

"The Return of Luanne's Man"


The descent of the plane seemed unbearably long
Convinced I had nothing to fear
I hardened my heart to appear to be strong
Is there anything left for me here?

When I was much younger, I called this place home
Luanne and I sauntered the street
I dropped her relation for more room to roam
Soon the world would come bow at my feet

As soon as I learned I was not owed a thing

I answered the call to bear arms
Becoming a puppet maneuvered by strings
Sent to play in a sandbox of harm

My new home it seemed as though God had forgot
Alone I spent curled to my knees
It was hard to just watch as these puppets got shot
Their bloodied strings flapped in the breeze

I remember the day it fell violently still
Debris raining down from the air
I searched out in blindness with all of my will
For a limb that was no longer there

They bandaged my pride and then put me in line
For the next flight out of the chute
My luggage packed nicely with all that was mine
Except for one sock and one boot

I felt my frame tremble as the plane kissed the ground
The rest of me home safe at last
Would Luanne come and see me? Is she even around?
Can we ever return to the past?

As we rounded the tarmac, my heart skipped a beat
Because through my window I’d seen
Luanne in a sun dress just waiting to greet
Looking just as she did at fifteen

Luanne turned to bend in an awkward embrace
As my chair and I rolled from the plane
Her love for me shined through the smile on her face
I’d been blessed to come home once again.

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