The tears I cry

you were here before
but you were so young
only 3 years old
I will never forget the look on your little face
the tears in your eyes when I stood and cried
I wished for rain
in the middle of a heat wave
so I wouldn't have to explain
the tears I cry
and sure as rain you asked
and I told you to look
there's Mommy in that big shiny car
as the procession drove by
but now I realize the tears I cry
were tears of pride and tears of love
and I am not embarrassed to cry
when you were not afraid to die
oh how I miss you and love you
oh how I wish you were here
but perhaps you were chosen for a reason
there are reasons and choices for us all
when this reaches you I hope you can hear me
it seems our son has answered the call
and he leaves on Monday so I guess it's true
he is really going after all
he's so big, strong and cunning like you
his voice fills the house and when he's gone
I don't know what I'll do
so please baby when you get this
look over him please
bring him back home
my world would truly end
if I were to loose him too
I love you so much
I know your Mother would have been
very proud of  you
we'll be a world apart
you take care and stay alert
you're not going alone
and just one more thing
please come home

A Son’s Prayer

THE SUN HAS SET
ON MANY DAYS
BRUTAL TIMES
A BLOODY HAZE
SOMEWHERE DEEP INSIDE ME
I FEEL WARMTH WITHIN
THE THINGS I’VE LEARNED
THE THINGS I’VE DONE
IN THE DARKNESS
THEY START CLOSING IN
A SHADOW NOW APPEARS
A FEEBLE MAN
A SMALLER MAN
A MAN OF MANY YEARS
THE THINGS YOU DO
THE THINGS YOU’VE DONE
I RECOGNIZE HIM NOW
THE DAY HE WENT AWAY
IS THE DAY MY PAIN BEGAN
FATHER, PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME NOW!

I wanna be a soldier

(Too young to drink
Too young to vote
But not young to die
Such a young guy yet so grown up
I often ask myself why)

Dad, I wanna be a soldier
I remember hearing him say
A young boys dream
A game that they play
Day by day
Inch by inch
I watched as he grew into a man
Guiding and directing him
Doing the best I can
I taught him honesty
And integrity
To honour and respect
To bow his head in gratitude
When he takes time to reflect
On the many who came and went before
To fight for peace and freedom
And so much more
Dad, I wanna be soldier
Are the words that echo on that day
As I stood on the tarmac
Wishing him well as he went on his way
The last words that he said to me were
Don’t worry Dad, I’ll be okay
I see him still
Running through the yard
My little soldier boy
On that summer day
Bang, bang, he said
As he fired his toy gun
Nah, you missed me, said the other kid
And continued to run away
My fists are clenched
My legs are weak
My eyes are filled with tears
I can’t speak
Standing on this overpass
For what seems like years
My Son is coming home today
He’s coming home for good
Never, ever to be taken away again
My Son is a soldier
My Son is a hero
My Son has come home to rest
And he’s home to stay!