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, squared away,
and said "Mommy, I'm right here."*A mother welcomes her son home from war. |
