Fallen Soldiers (The Child's Lament)
by Judith Shields Regini
April 1994
He buttoned his top button and he straightened up his tie.
He pinned on badge 368 then stopped to wonder why.
Why is it that we need the law?
Why can't we get along?
His questions went unanswered as he strapped his pistol on.
And once again he said a prayer that nothing would go wrong.
He went into the kitchen and hugged his loving mate.
His daughter tugged his pant leg and asked him please to wait.
She said,
Daddy, please don't go
She cried through troubled tears.
He looked down at her and said with a smile.
I'll always be right here.
He made it through the evening shift and found his way back home.
He hugged his wife and held her close and looked around the room.
His daughter's favorite teddy bear was lying on a chair.
He bent and gently picked it up and tiptoed up the stair.
He kissed her gently on the cheek and softly stroked her hair.
He pulled the covers to her chin as she snuggled with her bear.
The next day dawned just like before, daddy dressed in blue.
Hugging mommy, kiss his girls he had a job to do.
She said,
Daddy, please don't go
She cried through troubled tears.
He looked down at her and said with a smile.
I'll always be right here.
That day was different than any day before.
Daddy wouldn't be coming home.
He got the word of trouble at a grocery store
And faced a man with a gun.
The bagpipes played Amazing Grace, the bugler sounded Taps.
The young girl cried for Daddy as she climbed in Mommy's lap.
She said,
Daddy, please don't go
She cried through troubled tears.
He looked down at her and said with a smile.
I'll always be right here.
Copyright ©1994 Judith Regini
