Reunion
©1970 Andrew Calhoun, unrecorded
I arrived at dusk
The lights were on inside
I waited at the door I used to walk in
Before I changed sides
She answers the bell
She seems older than before
I can tell she prepared to smile
Then she opened the door
There’s a smile in the face
But it’s there too long
The eyes stare off blankly at nothing
And bring their thoughts along
The other never help me
I’m always the one
The others never visit home
And I always have to come
Wonder why they called me
Don’t know why I came
I shouldn’t think these insane thoughts
But I’m doing it again
Wonder how I fit here
There wouldn’t be friends of mine
They’re another culture from the people I know
And another time
I sit down in a chair
“I’ll have sugar and cream”
my face laughs in the coffee
and I hope I don’t scream
I sound too funny
With the words I say
I sound like a lousy actor
In a lousy play
She goes in the kitchen
Leaves him alone with me
And now my head starts aching
It was lonely enough with three
He fills his pipe
And he clutches his beer
He waits for me to speak first,
“It’s good to be here.”
And he speaks intensely
About stupid things
But he used to be a master
He used to be a king
I hear her in there cooking
Cooking all the food
And he’s laughing very hard now
As he changes moods
We’re finally called to dinner
And the table’s been set
I notice my old baby glass
She still thinks of me like that
He discusses his job
As I mentally curse
I realize I’m overacting
And it makes me feel worse
The food is okay
But my throat is dry
My eyes start to swell
And I don’t know why
The dirty dishes go out
And the cake is good
It doesn’t taste like it used to
I didn’t think it would
The food is okay
But my throat is dry
My eyes start to swell
And I don’t know why
I go into the bathroom
And I wash my face
I’m tired and this whole evening
Has been one endless race
I come back to eat
And I say I’m full
We talk about sports and prices
And how I don’t eat well
Nights get late
Parents say goodnight to their sons
Each tries to sing the others to sleep
But they’re singing different songs
Wonder why they called me
Don’t know why I came
I hate them more each time I come
But I know I’ll come again