An Army Mom's Song (adapted from an old nursery rhyme)

Oh where, oh where has my little boy gone?
Oh where, oh where can he be?
With his big brown eyes & his innocent smile,
Oh where, oh where can he be?

He's grown up tall, he's not a boy anymore
His eyes have seen many things
How I wish I could protect him from all of life's trials,
Oh where, oh where can he be?

He is serving his country in lands far away
He's a soldier so strong & so brave.
Every day that goes by is a day that I pray
That in war, my young son will be safe.

Oh where, oh where has my little boy gone?
Oh where, oh where can he be?
He's gone off to fight in very long war,
And one day he'll return safely to me.

© 2011 Cari Kissel

****************************

I wrote this poem on February 5, 2011, when my son was deployed to Afghanistan, as a Cavalry Scout in the United States Army. It was my way of trying to deal with the worry & stress that goes along with having a child in harm's way. The photo below is of my son as a toddler. When we think of the numerical statistics of all those who have died, been injured, or have come safely home from war, let us remember that each & every one of them was & is somebody's child.