"Family Reunion" is a poem about wicked children who return home after their misdeeds are forgiven by their parents. The poem is analogous to the biblical tale of the prodigal son, in which even he understands his own folly and returns to his father to seek forgiveness and mercy. This poem was written by American poet Carl Henry Van Doren (1856-1928). Theme messages are the main ideas presented in a poem. They can be simple or complex. A poem's theme may be evident from its title or stated in the first line of the poem. In "Family Reunion," the theme is clear from the title: family is important. The poem also suggests that no matter how far away we go, they will always have our back. Often poems use language metaphorically to explain abstract concepts. For example, words such as honor, pride, shame, guilt, remorse, forgive, repent, curse, bless, hope, fear, prevent, protect, defend, guide, mislead are all used to describe emotions in a metaphorical way. These words reflect real experiences but they are used in a poetic context where they take on additional meaning. They may feel proud when you say that you're counting on them or that you want them to help you find the answer to a question. They may feel ashamed if they do something wrong and need to be forgiven.