PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

Bag packed and eyes full

of excitement and apprehension

He will come back changed

I know

I will never again lay eyes

on this boy 

who stands before me

Raising his right hand

Swearing his oath to his country

Knowing, but not

fully knowing

what that means

When I see him next he will be transformed

Less boy, more man

Less hesitant, more confident

Less passive, more driven

Less boy

More soldier

And though my Mother’s Heart

is near to bursting with pride,

And though my Mother’s Heart

knows this is what life should be:

That boys turn into men

and that some very special men

Turn into soldiers

My Mother’s Heart is also near

to ripping in two

Knowing that a chapter is firmly closing

That certain motherly duties are done

That I have given all I can

Hoping it has been enough

When he was barely five, I sent him off to school

with small, handmade stones

tucked into his pockets

I had painted them with the words "Mom,"

and "Love You," in nail polish

I kissed them, explaining to him

that I had filled them with my love 

and that any time he was nervous

or homesick or unsure

He could reach in his pocket

and palm the warm, flat smoothness

And feel my love

because I was always near

even when he couldn’t see me.

He took one to school every day

for weeks

Every morning, at his behest

I kissed and refilled them with love

Until one day, he just didn't need them anymore.

That day I knew my work

of launching a confident little boy 

into this big, scary world

was done

I wish I could tuck those same stones

in his pockets today

As I launch my confident young man

into the big, scary world of service

But I know 

they served their purpose

all those years ago

I know

that he now carries them

where he needs them most:

in his heart