When the battle is over
When the mission is done
When the tour has ended
With the casing of the guns
When the bugle plays the last note
A soldier’s mind begins to roam
To the things missed on the mission
Hearth, Homeland, Family, and Home
While the time afield was passing
Living, dying, victory, pain
So too back home was changing
Growing, dying, so much loss and gain
From the monotony of the battlefield
Days of boredom, moments of strife
To the monotony of normality
Daily living the family life
The soldier holds two worlds in balance
Both of duty, and of station
Committed fully to both causes
Love of family and of nation
Eventually every watch is over
And every deployment ends
Then a fading old soldier and family
Find time and place where life begins
Poignant! ❤️