While He’s Away: A Poem About Being Gone

Reblogged from Jason B. Ladd

My dad served two tours in Vietnam when I was a kid, so I can relate to this poem. I do respect and bless our troops. My daughter is a Navy Chief. I am for peace and against war. There cannot be peace while we fight and kill each other! Bless those that have lost their lives, lost their family and made sacrifices.

–

While I’m away

The mission’s first

We’ll put our best against their worst

But victory will fail to quench my thirst

While I’m away

 –

While I’m away

The silence settles in

The mood is calm, the air is thin

My kingdom for one morn’ of childrens’ din

While I’m away

 –

While I’m away

Diminished dawns

The flock is far, the shepherd gone

The sheep will grow and graze and carry on

While I’m away

–

While I’m away

Fools worship golden cows

With laps aflame and loins aroused

Let God protect our covenant of sacred vows

While I’m away

–

While you’re away

I start a new routine

The laundry’s neat, the house is clean

But soon I miss the manly mess unseen

While you’re away

–

While you’re away

Our things break down

With no one to repair around

In projects left undone our lair abounds

While you’re away

–

While you’re away

The evil freaks

Through sudden cricks and eerie creaks

Our settling house at nighttime speaks, I’m scared

While you’re away

–

While you’re away

It’s not the same

I’m thankful for the few who came

To help me play this sacrificial game

While you’re away

–

While he’s away

I’m turning ten

This milestone never comes again

I understand, but struggle now and then

While he’s away

–

While he’s away

I run the bases

Looking in the stands for faces

Sad to see the empty spaces left

While he’s away

–

While he’s away

I lose my teeth

And sleep with them at night beneath

The pillow where I cry myself to sleep

While he’s away

–

While he’s away

It makes me sad

Sometimes I’m a little mad

How come others get to have my dad

While he’s away?

–

While  he’s away

I’ll start to walk

And look up for my daddy’s gawk

But nowhere will I find his eyes to lock

While he’s away

–

While I’m away

Their father’s not around

I’ve taught them though, one comfort sound

Another Father always keeps them found

While I’m away

–

Photo credit: Cpl. Bryan Nygaard / PD / bus

Photo credit: Capt. Christopher Prout / PD /hornet

Photo credit: r.f.m II / Foter.com / CC BY /man bed

Photo credit: EoinGardiner / Foter.com / CC BY /flock

Photo credit: Jeff Belmonte / Foter.com / CC BY /rings

Photo credit: coloredgrey / Foter.com / CC BY /no mess

Photo credit: john.schultz / Foter.com / CC BY-SA /to do list

Photo credit: Hiii-Fiii / Foter.com / CC BY /door

Photo credit: stephcarter / Foter.com / CC BY-ND /mother and daughter

Photo credit: Olaf / Foter.com / CC BY-SA /bb gun

Photo credit: Phil Roeder / Foter.com / CC BY /softball

Photo credit: insidious_plots / Foter.com / CC BY /missing tooth

Photo credit: Russel K Photographs / Foter.com / CC BY-ND /worried

Photo credit: Pink Sherbet Photography / Foter.com / CC BY /crawling