Soldier Boy

My son is at war, so far from our home He left this sweet haven to places unknown Seeing his face in a photo so near Knowing he’ll be gone at least for a year And the great USA plays games with my head As I move like a puppet on a string made of lead Oh how I wish that damn phone would just ring Hearing that laugh would make my heart sing Hoping to catch the sound of his voice Knowing again that this was his choice To go off and fight in this far away land Was somehow his destiny and part of the plan My soldier boy He left in the chill of a brisk winter day I remember his tears; time whisked him away And the hug that I gave him was long and it clung Oh on that day how the bitter wind stung I felt I was waging my own war of strife But the picture was gigantic- larger-than-life My soldier boy He wrote me last week and I heard his sweet love And I thanked once again my God from above He is safe and he is somehow so remarkably tough But his words told the truth; he’s had quite enough And I felt a tear cascade down the side of my cheek As I remembered his time as a child playing hide’n’go seek My soldier boy He told me his innocence is gone -that he’s seen way too much And I just longed to hold him and needed his touch But instead I wrote that I loved him forever And that his life would someday be hopefully better I told him to stay safe and ever so strong And my soul felt a stab as my words moved along He is always in my mind and deep in my heart I thanked him again for doing his part My soldier boy He’s still a young boy who’s grown up too fast With the insight and strength he’s had to amass He’s my pride; he’s my joy He’s my soldier boy