How Does One Welcome Home A Warrior? Poem by Rashida Mack

Far from the borders of my world,
and his known place,
of being,
a man, once a boy,
has fought for me,
you,
and it.

Away from the free rhetoric of political roar.
His faith is no conversation sparked by a need for repore.
Extended beyond the fractured pieces
and tumultuous currents of peace,
he is there,
to restore.

How to welcome home a fighter,
soaked in the sorrows of another land,
drenched in the blood of unearthly battle,
trained to withstand the extreme condition,
but unprepared for the gut-wrenching separation,
from his cherished kin,
little moments lost,
never to be regained again.

Six months gone,
an eternity of life for death.
How we have missed you,
simply cannot be expressed,
fear bottled with tight lid,
can now burst free,
for he is here,
again with me.

His wife seasons his feast,
with long flood gated tears,
and giggles spittle,
bubbling audaciously free.
From behind.
he cradles her head,
against his pounding chest.

The youngest holds tight to his neck,
while proud grins and glistened eyes meet.
Under his arm, his eldest leans in,
ear pressed against his heart.
His sons grab hold of his leg and waist,
as he cups there heads in each roughened hand.

Now I can tell you,
in spirit,
all you need to know.

Welcome home,
my dear brother,
blessings upon you,
may partings last sorrow,
forever be gone within.

*www.goldenphant.com