The Soldiers Lullaby

She once walked with him and stopped with him when they heard that familiar refrain. She'd stand beside him while he'd salute her pride for her Soldier was plain, and every night, while he'd hold her tight contented and happy, she'd sigh. They would drift off to sleep listening to the beat of the Soldiers Lullaby. They play the National Anthem to fill us with fire and pride and the last one they play every evening is the Soldiers Lullaby. Twice a day at nine eleven when her Soldier was in Iraq she'd bow her head in silence to remember that September attack, and when she'd get home in the evening tired and lonely, she'd cry. She'd pray that somewhere he was listening to the Soldiers Lullaby. Now she stands at the gate in the airport heart pounding as Soldiers stream by, so excited she can barely contain it overwhelmed she's starting to cry, and the crowd is beginning to thin now the tears and the laughter all die, heart broken and lonely, she stands there when she hears his voice simply say "hi"... It's been years since she's thought of that moment, they've been busy with life passing by. Two girls and two boys now fill their lives with joy and time really does seem to fly, but at night when she's tucked in her family she still bows her head with a sigh and she never forgets to remember The Soldiers Lullaby. ~For Jenn with love