A SOLDIER’S LETTER FROM HOME

I received this letter today,

From someone who far away,

I did not know, but truly love,

Their words picked me up, with velvet glove;

I sit around in this cold,

Some days it’s very, very old,

A packet for warmth, no fire for me,

Light discipline ’tis plain to see;

This letter, this billet I received,

Brought memories of home overseas,

Roasting chestnuts so good and hot,

A fire roaring, with food – a lot;

I sit here guarding on patrol,

Give up good things to keep control,

My spartan life of martial need,

Keeps folks back home safe indeed;

So to know that someone cared,

Wrote a note and with me shared,

Some lines of writ and pictures of home,

They cared for me as I continue to roam;

So thank you lady, man or child,

To stay in touch with me in the wild,

My sacrifice isn’t so hard today,

Your words expressed what I couldn’t say.

PTR November 29, 2010