A Gentle Few

Welcome home my son, it's been so very long,
I know that you're here to surrender
The disappointing days I suffered at your age
Were more than I care to remember

Before you throw the towel and turn your engines out,
Don't expect to spit all that you tasted from your mouth
After all you've seen, the most you'll hope to be
Is pretending to be a pretender

The years that I been through, I met a gentle few
Who say that they love and they mean it
The others that I met, they're decent folks I guess,
But all that they love is achievement

Their swagger and their dress, the trappings of success,
The butter and the milk of what it takes to get ahead.
Any given night, you'll catch them dead to rights
Painting their name on the ceiling

Remember in the end that many of your friends
Would rather be dead than uncertain
They want a simple yes, or even better yet,
A promise the next life is perfect

I promise that it's not, but then what have they got?
Only fifty years, they never gave a moment's thought
Anyone they find who tells them otherwise,
They'll follow him backwards and shirtless
Welcome home my son, it's been so very long,
I know that you're here to surrender