The Letter That Never Came

"Is there any mail for me?"
Was the question that he asked
Of the postman at the closing of the day
But he turned away and sighed
While a tear stood in his eye
As he drooped his head and slowly walked away

    Was it from a gray-haired mother?
    Or a sister, or a brother?
    He waited all these many years in vain
    Oh, from early morning light
    He would wait 'til dark at night
    For the letter but, alas, it never came

As he waited all these years
Joy mingled with his tears
His poor soul had faded out with the tide
In his hand he held a note
And those simple words he wrote
"If the letter comes just place it by my side"