Wish You Were Here

[couchgrouch]

Wish You Were HereMike tucked a photo of his dad,in his army duffle bagthen asked the night for strength and gracehis kissed his young wife goodbye,and deep in her hazel eyeshe saw an old familiar facehe stood like his father once didon an early morning pierthought of saying goodbye as a kidand said, "I wish you were here"she'd look at Mike's fav'rite chair,sometimes he was almost therewhen she needed someone to talk toshe hated going to bed,there were times when she'd forgetand make spaghetti for twoshe knew her long and sleepless nightscouldn't compare with his fearbut as she wept by candlelightshe'd say, "I wish you were here"that autumn when Mike came home,he went to his father's stoneand stood in the dead leaves and windhe held hands with his wife,wars stay with soldiers for lifewhen they're over they still don't endthere were distant and desp'rate criesthat only he could hearhis wife saw his faraway eyesand thought, "I wish you were here"(c)2004 Robert George