HAVE YOU COME TO TAKE ME HOME

HAVE YOU COME TO TAKE ME HOME

by Richard E. Noble

“Have you come to take me home?” she said.
And the old man began to cry.

“Have you come to take me home?” she said.
And inside he thought he’d die.

“Have you come to take me home?” she said.
She was sick, alone, and misty-eyed.

“Have you come to take me home?” she said.
“Not today, my love, but tomorrow, maybe.”
and so he lied.

“Have you come to take me home?” she said.
And then she fell apart.

“Have you come to take me home?” she said.
“My love, my soul, my heart,

the nights here are so long,
And the people cry in their sleep.
I can’t eat this food; it’s not like home,
and day by day I feel so weak.

Have you come to take me home, my love?
Have you come to take me home?
Have you come to take me home, my love,
or must I die alone?

We’ve lived this life, just you and I
and now you’ve put me here to die.
Have you come to take me home, my dear?
Have you come to take me home?

Move closer, closer. Won’t you come near, my dear?
I need your hand my love, to chase away this fear.
Help me … Help me ... You are my only hope.”

“I can’t bring you home, my dear.”
Beside her bed so near, he reached down and took her hand.

“I can’t bring you home, my love, though it would be so grand.
If only I could...” and he caressed and squeezed her hand.

“Have you come to take me home?” she said;
and the old man began to cry.

“Have you come to take me home?” she said;
and inside he thought he’d die.

“Then you’re not going to take me home,” she spoke.
“Then you’re not going to take me home.
You’re going to leave me here all by myself;
You’re going to leave me here to die alone.”

And as she cried, he thought he died
and she pulled her hand from his.
But he pulled it back and put on it a kiss.

She struggled and struggled as a weak one might,
but she was old, sick, and weary from fright.
He struggled with her, there, all night,
to keep her hand with his,
and stood beside her bed and cried,
until, at last, she finally died.

“Have you come to take me home, my love?
Have you come to take me home?”

“No, my dear, but I’ll be near
You’ll never be alone.

You’ll never be alone, my love,
You’ll never be alone.”