WHEN DADDY WENT TO WAR

When Daddy went to war
he left brother and me
in care of our young mother,
who suffered days of loneliness,
nights of crying,
praying for his safe return.

When Daddy went to war
we collected newspapers,
tin cans and rubber bands,
and used food ration stamps at
Uncle Paul’s grocery store where
he ran a tab for Mother.

When Daddy went to war
we traded gas rations for sugar,
and took dimes to school
to buy US Savings Bonds.

When Daddy went to war
we received censored V-mail
on small sheets of paper
reassuring us of his love
and “I’ll be home soon” promises.

When Daddy went to war
we endured war newsreels
in the darkened movie theater
wanting only to see cartoons
and the main feature.

When Daddy went to war
we turned off he lights,
pulled the shades
and snuggled together
on the studio couch
listening to Mother
recite poetry and fairy tales
to quiet our fears
when the sirens blew.

Then early one fully frozen,
crisp, still winter morn
a neighbor's voice
from across the street,
“Hello, Phil…Welcome home!”
and there he was, unharmed.
Or was he?

Well…unharmed as one can be
returning from war.

Daddy came home from war
Christmas morning 1945.

Karen McClelland
March 20, 2009