Without her soldier

Endless days of sunless gray,

Repetition without end.

You're not even close to coming home,

I've been months without my best friend.

The tears, they fall without effort.

The nights, they drag on.

One more "X" marked on the calendar,

One more day you've been gone.

I promise, the kids, they never see me cry.

I tell them how brave you are,

And see the pride in their eyes.

I tell them,"Daddy is a Hero",

And "he's trying to save lives".

I read your letters aloud to them,

I show them the pictures you've sent.

We say a prayer every night as I tuck them in.

Then I lye in our bed, and read your letters again.

Each day it gets harder,

But I stay strong for their sake,

They are the only sunshine in these days of endless gray.