Not Lost to the Heart

He joined the Military one fine day,
On a whim or for his country, who can say?
There were many tears when he had to finally go,
But children must leave the nest, as all mothers know.

He arrived to find things different, maybe a bit hard,
But knew in the end he would achieve the ultimate reward.
So he stayed strong and did as he was told,
And when he returned home, he was someone to behold.

For he was so changed and held such conviction,
His future held every kind of grand wonderful prediction.
Everyone was proud of this new man in their life,
And simply in being there, their lives did he revive.

But then he was suddenly called away as a war broke out,
He would make it back, his loved ones knew this without a doubt.
And so the war raged, news brought by radio and TV,
The country waited anxiously for a fast, easy won victory.

But they waited and months turned to years,
And during these months truths came, revealing fears.
For the death tolls grew but always on both sides,
Casting grief on siblings, parents and even new brides.

And then one day the call came that all families dread,
Sometimes a call worse then knowing your loved one is dead.
For he was missing in action, no one knew how or where,
It seemed one day he was calling them, then he simply wasn’t there.

A search was made but he was not found,
The effects in everyone’s life was all so profound.
For everyone took for granted his carefree manor and way,
And didn’t know how his absence would cause such disarray

There was an empty casket with a tombstone that bore his name,
But deep inside everyone knew things would never be the same.
A medal and a memory cannot fully bring back what was lost,
But try telling that to the people who don’t see what those lives cost.