The Dear John Poem by Michael Pruchnicki

He told me once, 'I don't mind dying,
but I hate to see the children cry.'
That was after he got the Dear John.
We can't have all things to please us,

but he hated to see the children cry!
'I always knew she'd be the death of me.'
We can't have all things to please us,
so he stayed at his post until the end.

He always knew she'd be the death of him.
I regret that I never said, 'Semper Fi! Iove you! '
He stayed at his post until the bitter end.
The citation was mostly Marine Corps boilerplate.

I regret that I never said, 'Semper Fi! I love you, man! '
I think now of those kids who'll never cry.
The citation was mostly Corps boilerplate, but true.
We suffer pain and sorrow in this life, dear God!

I often think of those kids who'll never cry.
This is long after he got that Dear John.
He suffered pain and sorrow-'Friend, go to God! '
He told me once, 'I don't mind dying.'