Homecoming

Forever exercise in disappointment,
The wives' makeup melting, the kids
Bored and fussy on the scalding pier,
Armed with patriotic pom-poms bought
And paid for with wives' club
Money. Like watching paint dry,
A bike rust, the tide leaching out
At day's end is watching your
Ship come in, cumbrous and yes
All the sailors turned out on
The decks in summer whites.
It's a happy occasion. But
They've go their work and
All you can do is wait to receive,
For the chit of your patience,
Someone too tired to call out your name.