I’ve been trying
to imagine him leaving
I tried to make myself
let him go
But I never can bring myself
to give him up
I just want him to be happy
and have a good life
I think about it so much,
it makes me cry
When I imagine
him going off to be a soldier
Giving himself over
to be government property
I even dream about it:
waiting to get on a military plane,
The cheesy movie scene.
He is in his uniform
and I hug him one last time,
Tight enough to make him stay,
Tears streaming down my face
and I release my grip
Then I wake up,
knowing he will be gone soon
Away from me
I know he will come back
But I don’t want to say goodbye.