“I Belong”

My travels, often long but few,
Continually keep me on the front lines,
Far and away from you.
Blessed to have you,
I pray for your well being,
And for my safe return,
For on this soil, by your side,
Forever I belong.

Seconds before your last kiss,
And just before my departure,
I close my eyes and in my mind,
Under the dim lights, the bright sun,
Or the clear moonlight,
Your last pose I capture.

When we are apart,
You are closer to my heart.
As I leave our nest,
I begin my quest, to on command,
Relive the moment when I captured your last pose.
For in your absence, frozen in time,
This moment feeds my heart,
Which forever holds you close.

The thought of leaving you is frightening.
The possibility of never returning
Is as real as all the stars lighting my nights,
When they are brightly shining.

While I am away, my mission is to survive,
And to protect my countrymen,
Even if I will never again be seen alive.
When I am at home, with you,
My mission is to be the best husband I can be.
To make you happy, make you feel safe,
And bring you smiles, all while wishing for the day,
When I never again have to traverse those immense oceans,
Or walk those long miles.

My journeys without you,
Although bearable,
Are always grueling and long.
As I move from port to port,
Your unconditional love,
Understanding and support,
Are my pillars and my strength,
To keep moving forward,
To protect my country,
For in it, and next to you,
Forever I belong.