What Does A Soldier Means? Poem by Connie Tallada

Soldier means being away on Christmas day
Celebrating the yuletide season so unhappy
It's dreaming to be home together with our family
Keeping all the sadness from distant place miles away

It's having our cast off selves on valentine
Enduring the pain, holding the tears, trying to be fine
It's missing and wanting our loveones badly
Loving the person so much that we cannot see

It's celebrating birthdays with no candles to blow
No cakes, no wines and no parties to go
It's waiting for the letterman hoping for some delivery
Just to receive nothing at the end of the day

It's taking care of ourselves when we get sick
Comforting ourselves at down moments and heartbreaks
It's expecting no one to give us medicine
Having nobody when our hearts bend

It's missing the family's special occasions
Anonymous at every gatherings and celebrations
It's being known to family friends only by pictures
We only exist in stories far ashore

It's being a total stranger to our very own children
Feeling unwanted for the years unseen
It's going home finding them wondering who you are
Asking who's this face that came from afar

It is walking away from home against our will
Bracing ourselves not to cry, fighting hard to remain still
It is vading goodbye at times that we don't want to go
Not knowing if we're going back for a year or so

It is giving up our freedom to live the way we wanted
Surrendering ourselves to commands and orders created
It is loving our uniforms more than anything else
Making ourselves always available to any tasking and duties