When your son comes home during a war…
And you cannot control your joy
Or the number of times you stand on tiptoe
To wrap your arms around his man-sized body
And he lets you.
When your son comes home during a war…
For less than a day
And you gaze at him when you think he doesn’t notice
Until he asks you to stop
Because apparently, “it’s creepy”.
When your son comes home during a war…
But time passes too quickly
And before you know it, it’s time to send him back
And your handsome young soldier lets you hug him goodbye
Twice.
When your son comes home during a war…
And you feel guilty
Because he is safe at home and safe on base
Because you have friends who don’t know when they will hug their children
Because you have friends who will never hug their children again.
So you cry…
But not when your son can see you
And you try to go about your days
And try to sleep through the nights
Wondering about and waiting for
Your son to come home during the war
