"Wake, my boy, for I have little time
It's papa, calling, now awake your mind"
A boy of ten grumbles and stirs
hearing his father force rushed words
"What, papa? Why do you wake me?
It's still dark outside, can't you see?"
A father smiles and then he cries
A son so pure, full of youth and life
"Rise my boy, I must bid you farewell.
I must take leave for now, and must not dwell."
"It's fine papa, go, go if you must
I will see you when you return, I will not rust"
"My boy, I leave and may not come home
I've been called to war, to leave you all alone"
The boys opens his eyes and sits up in bed
The look in his father's eyes conveyed that of dread
"Leave to war, what do you mean?
Don't go, just stay here with me."
A father swells with all of strength
To hold back the tears that only war makes
"My boy, I can't, they would take both our lives
I must go, so that you can survive.
I love you son, I just wanted to say
Take care of your mother, and your sisters, okay.
You are the man of this household now
If I don't return, make your father proud."
"Papa, Papa, I love you Papa
I will make you proud Papa"
"That's my boy, now get back to sleep.
When you wake you will remember me"
The boy nods his head, and grows stern inside
The boy lays his head down, to dreams he returns
A father backs out of his lovely sons room
No longer a boy but a man now blooms.
Randy Sturridge
