Through A Child's Eyes

Tears of sorrow slowly rolled down my once rosy cheeks
The little cheeks my daddy once lovingly kissed when he tucked me into bed
The cheeks that still have a faint feel of daddy's prickly whiskers
But where has these feelings and incredible memories gone?
Are they hiding under daddy's dirty overalls?
In his drawer next to his tobacco pipe?
Or have they packed their belongings and left with daddy to war?
A sinister place where thought of death linger behind every corner
Where the comforting rays of the sun are blocked by all the debris and remains
The place where daddy is.
That cowardly place where the feeble cries of other helpless children are drowned out by the fallible gun shots
The place where daddy patiently waits and prays that he will one day hear my singing voice
Witness my baby sister's first steps
And see my older brother's college diploma
Will I see him running down the rocky path to meet us with his arms wide open?
With many chivalrous tales to be told and unforgettable scars to be shown
Or will he not?
Will daddy be one of the prominent and unselfish soldiers that have walked their last few steps with dignity and pride?
With his leadership and heroism represented by a simple cross made of two splintered wooden planks
And placed above his still body resting in eternal slumber surrounded my crimson poppies restlessly blowing in the wind
Will he be honored and remembered as a soldier loyal and dear to his brave duties toward our noble country?
For his courage to fall down and stand back up again to fight for his children's futures
For his impartial acts of kindness toward everyone; even his most formidable fiends
Indeed he will
Because he is my daddy