~Daddy's Poem~

I'll begin by saying I did not write this poem, but I did write an afterward for it.

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~Daddy's Poem~

Her hair was up in a pony tail, her favorite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school, and she couldn't wait to go.
But her momm
y tried to tell her, that she probably should stay home
Why the kids might not understand, if she went to school alone.
But she was not afraid; she knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates of why he wasn't there today.
But still her mother worried, for her to face this day alone.
And that was why once again, she tried to keep her daughter home.
But the little girl went to school eager to tell them all.
About a dad she never sees a dad who never calls.
There were daddies along the wall in back, for everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently, anxious in their seats.
One by one the teacher called a student from the class.
To introduce their daddy, as seconds slowly passed.
At last the teacher called her name, every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching, a man who wasn't there.
"Where's her daddy at?" She heard a boy call out.
"She probably doesn't have one," another student dared to shout.
And from somewhere near the back, she heard a daddy say,
"Looks like another deadbeat dad, too busy to waste his day."
The words did not offend her, as she smiled up at her Mom.
And looked back at her teacher, who told her to go on.
And with hands behind her back, slowly she began to speak.
And out from the mouth of a child, came words incredibly unique.
"My Daddy couldn't be here, because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be, since this is such a special day.
And though you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know.
All about my daddy, and how much he loves me so.
He loved to tell me stories he taught me to ride my bike.
He surprised me with pink roses, and taught me to fly a kite.
We used to share fudge sundaes, and ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him. I'm not standing here alone.
"Cause my daddy's always with me, even though we are apart
I know because he told me, he'll forever be in my heart"
With that, her little hand reached up, and lay across her chest.
Feeling her own heartbeat, beneath her favorite dress.
And from somewhere there in the crowd of dads, her mother stood in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter, who was wise beyond her years.
For she stood up for the love of a man not in her life.
Doing what was best for her, doing what was a right.
And when she dropped her hand back down, staring straight into the crowd.
She finished with a voice so soft, but its message clear and loud.
"I love my daddy very much, he's my shining star.
And if he could, he'd be here, but heaven's just too far.
You see he is an American Soldier and died just this past year
When a roadside bomb hit his convoy and taught Americans to fear.
But sometimes when I close my eyes, it's like he never went away."
And then she closed her eyes, and saw him there that day.
And to her mother's amazement, she witnessed with surprise.
A room full of daddies and children, all starting to close their eyes.
Who knows what they saw before them, who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second, they saw him at her side.
"I know you're with me Daddy," to the silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers, of those once filled with doubt.
Not one in that room could explain it, for each of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her, was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
And a child was blessed, if only for a moment, by the love of her shining star.
And given the gift of believing, that heaven is never too far.

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Now.... this poem pops up every now and again. I've seen it... probably about 20 times in the past 5-6 years.

And every time I read it, I know just how it ends.
Yet every time it ends, my heart it still rends.
For in this poem there is such pain
Of a child who learned to live again.

That though the child has lost so much
She does not use it as a crutch.
Instead she takes it in great stride,
And holds, for her father, such pride.

For those her dad has gone away,
and many wish that he had could stay.
She knows that he did what he could
To keep everyone safe, just like he should.

So when you hear a soldier die
Just know that a child may cry
And though they cry so many tears,
it will give them strength through many years.

Many soldier will go off to war. When we go, we leave behind our friends, our families. Our sons and daughers, wives and husbands. Mother and Fathers. We leave so much behind and sometimes we don't come back to see them again. So, when you see that a unit is going away, to deploy to some far away place, keep in mind that for every soldier that you see there, that some of them won't ever set foot on our soil again. That they will leave so much behind.

Never forget the sacrifice that soldiers in the military make. And never forget the sacrifice that their families have to make as well. For it is not only the soldier on the field that deals with the loss of his friend, but the family back home that didn't even know how he ended.

The sadness of this hurts me, and I cry for those who have lost so much... never forget the fallen. For it is with their blood that you are able to live on this land!

Why?

Over the past couple weeks.... a few people have asked me that. "Kevin, why did you join?" "Why do you put it all on the line?" "Sir... why do you want to fight for me? I don't want you to get hurt! I don't want to see you gone!"

I told him, I told her, I told kitten the same thing. I fight because I must. I fight because I found that there is finally something worth dying for. I fight because I finally woke up and smelled the roses and discovered that there is something in the great land worth giving it all for. I always knew I wanted to join, but I never found the reason why. I never understood exactly why I wanted to or why I had the gut desire to do what I now do.

I do it because some of you can not. I do it because there are those who need my defense, who need me to fight for them. There are people out there that are not brave enough to do what I do. People who would rather live a life on their knees than die on their feet.

I cannot live on my knees. I cannot live in chains and slavery and hope that when the enemy comes and demands my surrender that I give it to them. I refuse it. I will fight so that you may do that if you choose, but know that my life, the lives of those who have given you your life did so freely. They made the greatest sacrifice so that you could give away the freedom that they so heavily fought for you to have.

I am willing to fight, kill and die for my country because I love all of you so much. That is why I joined, that is why I will never quit and why I will persevere through it all. I have to do this, for not just you... but for me.

Don't forget

"Everything has its time and everything dies" - Doctor Who

"While everything may die, nothing is ever truly forgotten until you will it so" - Unknown

I still remember this friend I had years ago... I can't remember her name... or what she did, but I remember her beautiful voice, how full of joy and laughter it was, even as she was dying of cancer. I was 12 when I met her, this 19 year old woman... when I was 13 she dropped off the face of the earth till I was 14, she had come back for just one last time, to tell me good bye... that things had gotten so much worse. I watched her on her video... and she was still smiling.... I didn't understand why she was so happy... she was going to die. That month, she knew it and yet.. she smiled like the world was so beautiful. That even though she was in so much pain, laying there knowing she only had days left... that she could smile and be so happy that I was still there and concerned for her.

I want to remember what she said... I know it was something important... something along some happy line... that no matter how bad things are or how bad things get, that she learned to appreciate what she did have. That while, yes, she was dying... and yes this was the last time we'd talk... that she was still happy, because she had so many people in her life that cared, so many things that were so simple, so joyful that made her happy. Sure, she was in pain, sure she was dying, but she took joy in that sunrise she saw, in the laughter of a child, in the tears that fell from both of us as we said goodbye that night for the last time.

You know... I miss her. She was a great friend and she taught me such a massively important lesson early on. That no matter how dark things are, how badly things may end for you... there is always something to smile about. Even in your darkest hours, you can smile because there is always someone who loves you and wants you to be happy. Kira.... her name was Kira. And she died 8 years ago, but I still remember her... and I always will for the lesson she taught me. Kira will be the first name I have put on me.

Kira - Smile Always

Everything has its time, everything dies.... but that doesn't mean you are to be forgotten.

Admin Note

Hello everyone! This is going to be the spot where I write things and keep them stored for the most part. I'll be writing a lot of stuff over time, and all of it will end up here. I'll be directing people from all my sites to here to read. FB, FL, sG and anywhere else I go.