„And if it’s possible come, do come home
Come home. If God wishes you to make the journey
Waiting for you – mother, father, siblings and homeland
But if you don’t wish to come
You still always be my little son
But if you come and I am no longer alive
You’ll be told where I have taken my last ride
Come to me anyway and call me DAD
And I know even then that you are back”
Slowly, not necessary whispering
You can say it often
Father, Mother, Brother, Sister
Everyone will take notice
That you came back to be with them.
if I can stay alive, live a little longer
aged, waiting I’ll stay.
Mother earth is calling me to rest
tired, I am
but if it is to be that we meet
while I’m still alive
I prostate myself in front of you
And kisses will form a wreath
on your forehead
That’s how I lean on your shoulders
Kisses I’ll give you, like an embracing wreath
But forgive me my son
That I am your father
forgive me
Forgive, that I’m the one
Who lived a life with you
And suffering is all we shared
1.
I will go home again
To that charming little house
To my dear broken hearted father and mother
I am longing to see your smile
I am anxious to kiss you again
I’ll go to you and hug both of you
If God loves us as much as you asked
I will bend down to you my dear Mother
And kiss your dear smiling face
Caress your blond hair, kiss your hand again
If God will be as good to me as you asked
I know then, mother, I will feel
You hug me and forgive all my faults
I will stay again with you
Sounds of joys will fill your little house
My soul rushes back to you
I wish to see your dear darling face
Don’t forget dear mother to ask God
To give me a chance to kiss you again
My mother, the dearest lady
Forgive me for all my wrong deeds
I know how it must hurt you
I left without saying „see you”
And this will haunt me all my life
I didn’t kiss your hands
Your forehead, your rosy cheeks
I didn’t say „I’m leaving now”
I didn’t say „God bless”
Oh, how it must hurt you
I broke your heart then
Can you forgive, can you love
As if it never happened
I left, not wanting you to see me cry
Left without seeing you cry
So in my dreams night after night
It’s your rosy cheeks, smiling face
The reflection of love and care
That comes with me as my dreams come each night
„God willing I will go home
Together again we will be there
Oh dear mother, my homeland
How can you think I could forget?
When I am working or relaxing
It’s you who keep me going
My thoughts are always with you
My little brother, sister and friends
Ask God when you pray again
Ask him to give me a chance
So that I can go home again.
I am going home to love my homeland.
I will kiss Mom to no end.
Clouds and stars, as they travel the sky
Pause for a moment over her head
Call her name and let her know,
A message is coming, that’s good to know.
Sooner or later I will go home.
I will go home and surprise her,
Just don’t forget to tell this to her
How to find her is easy.
She is the one at the gate with the family.
They all will be there,
Mother father brother and sister.
Make her wait a bit easier.
Tell them, I definitely will be there.
I am going home to kiss my dearest.
Mother dear, cry no more tears.
Don’t worry about your son.
He is coming home, that’s all done.
He will tell you wherever he went,
You and your love was always his strength,
In happiness and sorrow,
In success or not necessarily so.
It was your love and it is now.
The strength that made me grow
Coming home finally
To show what you mean to me
Love you, my family, my home
And everything that’s dear to you and me
The church bell heralds the feast day today
Mother arranges dishes and utensils
Festive will be the dinner today
Together finally, we are again
The student is here, home again
He was not with us of late
But an earned vacation he now takes
Mother’s special dinner is going to be great.
While she is tending to the table
Father calls and leads us in the prayer
After the prayer they all dig in
Mother’s busy urging all to eat.
She hovers over the student
Eat, eat, its good and fresh she says
I cooked the best for my little guest
Your vacation was coming and I knew the rest.
She lifts her apron to wipe her brow
Pretends she dries her soaked face
True, there is a glow on her face
But it’s her eyes she wipes when no one looks
There were six around the table then.
But time flies and you’re back with just memories again
All the children are gone now,
And for some the vacation is not now
In fact there’s no vacation for one
His travels took him beyond’ the great ocean
Two remained from the six
The two parents aged not quite fifty
No more feasts no festive dinners for them
The only spice in their meals is their tear
The table is huge the house seems empty
Like a bird’s nest after the fall flight
The children are gone but there is hope
Spring will come and they’ll be back home.
Packed house, full table, festive meal
Mother serves, smiles, and father kneels
There will be no more tears of fear
Tears of joy and a festive meal
The six is more than six now
Each former child has a few in tow
You can hear the father say
Your wishes are granted if you pray
I’ve said mine for many years
The payoff is great, my children are here
I cry again as my father’s poem brings back memories
As a little boy, sitting on mother’s lap
You seemed to concentrate on your next step
I can still see as you suddenly just left
Letting her wonder where you’ll land next
Your arms flailing, your whole face smiling
Like a baby bird testing its wings
You flew to my arms in an instant
Oh how I held you tight and close!
You know how much I always loved you for those
If your travels will take you far
Just think of me and keep me in your heart
For you, he, who worked so very hard
Worked, so you can have happy days
And asking not much in return these days
Just that you think of me
Whether your daily life is sad or happy
Think of me, keep me in your memory
The imagination will always bring you back
On your journey to me.
I am home at last!
Why I returned after 34 years in 1990
Eugene Laszlo Hegedus