Marine, Marine, My Dear Marine Poem by Judy Alegria

Tears stream down my face
As I hold your hand in mine
A knot ties in my throat
I tell myself I’m fine

I hold back the raging sea
That threatens to pour out
I close my eyes to hide
The fear I want to shout.

You speak, but all I hear
Is my heart beating within
Ready to burst inside-
Making my head spin.

Marine, Marine, my dear Marine
In camis ready to leave.
The bus, it waits
By the open gates-
On this dark midsummer’s eve.

“Say Goodbye, my darling child…
Say, soon we will reunite…
Give plenty hugs, and plenty kisses…
Your daddy leaves tonight.”

Her little fingers reach for his face,
& her arms embrace his neck.
Her little lips move in by his
& lets go a precious peck.

The call is heard, and all aboard,
He turns to look once more…
His eyes memorize & analyze
As he goes through the bus doors.

Marine, Marine, my dear Marine
In camis ready to leave.
The bus, it waits
By the open gates-
On this dark midsummer’s eve.

I know not where you go,
Nor where it is you sleep-
I know only where I am
& that before I sleep, I weep.

I hold down the home front..
& you hold down your own.
Soon you’ll be home from ‘working‘-
No longer doing this alone.

Where you stand is firm-
You never fight for what is wrong.
You stand for something better,
Something to which you belong.

Those who speak with freedom
But blaspheme what it is you do
Know not where they got that freedom-
Know not the Veterans like you.

Never mind those people, love..
One day they’ll have to fight.
When someone takes it all away…
They’ll appreciate that right.

For now, you worry about nothing
But coming home to me…
I love you & God Keep you-
My Devil Dog Marine.