Footsteps at the Door

Footsteps at the Door

Another sleepless night for me

Alone upon our bed

I see again his every move

And those last words he said.

So proud he looked in uniform

Convinced that he was right

He had to go, for duty called

There was a war to fight.

Those last few days before he left

I hid the pain inside

We talked and loved and even joked

He never knew I cried.

And when the dreaded moment came

He kissed me tenderly

His eyes met mine, and then he said,

"I'll be all right, you'll see."

I tried to smile and nod my head

Afraid to let him see

The terror that I feared if he

Did not come back to me.

His precious children hugged his neck

He told them to be good

And help their mommy out at home

And mind her like they should.

They were too young to realize

That Dad would not be there

To tuck them in their beds at night

Or listen to their prayers.

I see him as he walked away

I tried to say "goodbye"

But words were trapped within my throat

All I could do was cry.

The weeks have stretched now into months

And every night I pray

That God will keep him in his care

And bring him home one day.

I do not moan beneath the load

Of all that I must do

My children will see strength in me

Until this war is through.

At last I drift off into sleep

In dreams I see him more

I turn around and smile to hear

His footsteps at the door.

Restless I sleep, and then I wake

Not opening my eyes

I move my hand to reach for him

But no one near me lies.

I will not give in to despair

With each new day I'll cope

For I know he would want me to

Be brave and live with hope.

I hear the voices loud and strong

Who criticize the war

While yelling men are fools to go

They stay on freedoms shore.

A man who cowers under fear

Will die a thousand deaths

While men like mine for freedom fight

And offer their last breaths.

I hope prehaps in fifty years

When men remember war

They wont forget the wives who dreamed

Of footsteps at the door.

Gwen C. Rollings

Two days and I will hear those footsteps!