Alicia Pratt Come Home Soon Poem by BRUCE MARTONE

ATTENTION, FORWARD MARCHED, HAULT, ABOUT FACE,
AIM, FIRE, TAKE COVER, PRESS UNIFORMS,
POLISHED BOOTS, CAPS ON STRAIGHT,
THE THINGS YOU HEARD IN TRAINING
OVER AND OVER AGAIN, BECOME A LESSON
WELL LEARN BEFORE GOING OVER SEAS
WANTING YOUR TOUR TO END
THE WAY WE DO, SO YOU COME HOME
TO US AGAIN
WITH MORE PICTURES TO SHOW
AND MORE STORIES TO TELL
TO LET US KNOW
WHAT IT WAS REALLY LIKE OVER THERE
AND DON'T THINK FOR ONE SECOND
THAT WE DON'T CARE TO HEAR
BECAUSE YOU KNOW WE DO, AND ALWAYS WILL
BECAUSE WE CARE SO MUCH ABOUT YOU,