Best Poems Written by Joni Goble

A Boy Grows To a Man

As I watched  you step off that bus
 Standing so tall and true.
I wiped a tear from my eye
 It didn't seem like you.
What happened to the little boy
 I sent away that day?
The one so full of boyish charm
 Always ready to play.
I took a minute, and looked real hard
 I gazed into your eyes.
I couldn't put my finger on it
 And then, to my surprise...
I realized the boy had gone
 and a man had taken his place.
This man before my eyes
 had seen another place.
A place not many understand
 not sure he always had.
But still he went willingly
 to protect against the bad.
Of things he's seen, of things he's done
 I'm sure I'll never hear.
But the fact he stands before me
 eases all my fears.
He took his hand, and wiped my face
 then asked, "Hey what's wrong today?"
I placed his face between my hands
 then whispered, "My baby went away."
He smiled, and kissed my cheek
 then wiped another tear.
Then stood real tall, and squared away
 and said "Mommy, I'm right here".

(This poem is dedicated to my son LCpl Richard Caseltine, USMC

Copyright © Joni Goble | Year Posted 2007