The Daddy Soldier
At four years old she kissed him goodbye
In his splendid soldier’s uniform
She was saddened to see her mother cry
As he set off for a land that’s foreign
She didn’t understand the reasons
Why her Daddy had to go
She only knew it was a soldier’s duty
Because her Daddy had told her so
By five years old she had forgotten his smell
From the after-shave when he gave her a kiss
She had gotten used to life without Dad
But by her mother, every day he was missed
Today her father came home
Though it wasn’t a day full of smiles
He would be traveling in a wooden box
Across the many miles
Six soldiers carried him off of the plane
With an American flag draped over the top
She watched the tears flow from Mommy’s eyes
As if they’d never stop
She stood up and she saluted them
The way her Daddy had shown
Not completely cognizant
Of the eternity of his new home
When Daddies of little children
Die for some vague political cause
Every living human being
Should stop in thoughtful pause
In wars there are no winners
Just some who loose much more
Victory has hollow meaning
When Daddy dies when you are four
Copyright © Joe Flach | Year Posted 2011
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