Poem: “The Prodigal Girl” by Unknown

Great poets have sung of the beauties of home, 

its comfort, its love and its joys; 

how back to the place of its sheltering dome 

I welcome the prodigal boy. 

They picture his father with pardoning smile 

and glittering robes to unfurl; 

but none of the poets thought it worthwhile 

to sing of the prodigal girl. 

The prodigal son can resume his old place 

as leader of fashion’s mad whirl, 

with never a hint of his former disgrace

– not so for the prodigal girl! 

The girl may come back to the home she had left, 

but nothing is ever the same: 

the shadow still lingers o’er the dear ones bereft, 

society scoffs at her name. 

Perhaps that is why when the prodigal girl 

gets lost on life’s devious track, 

she thinks of the lips that will scornfully curl, 

and hasn’t the heart to come back. 

Yes, welcome the prodigal son to his place, 

kill the calf, fill the free-flowing bowl; 

but shut not the door on his frail sister’s face; 

remember, she too has a soul.