Child of War

Daddy Don't Go...

Daddy Don't Go...

Early awakening, the sun's not up

Getting dressed, eating breakfast

No one talks, no one smiles.

Little sister cries at early rise,

Her tears the only ones shed yet.

Help Daddy pack his bags

Help Mommy take care of sister

Silence fills the house.

Help Daddy put his bags in the truck

Put on brave face to hide the sorrow

Brush teeth and hiar,

Put on shoes and socks,

Tension and sorrow thicken the air.

Everybody get in the car now.

The ride is lond, silent all the way,

Get to the Armory, many people there.

Other families, other soldiers,

Don't leave Daddy's side.

Growing sadder by the minute

don't want Daddy to leave.

Begged him not to go

He had to.

Time goes by, I'm still with Daddy.

Asked if I could go with him

He said I had to take care of Mommy.

I held his hand.

Finally the time comes.

Mommy starts crying,

Sister does too.

I tried to hold back the tears

They come flooding out.

I beg him not to go.

I tell him that he had to stay

Mommy needed him,

Sister needed him,

I needed him.

Mommy had to pry me frm his leg.

I scream and cry

I said I hated them for taking him.

He held me in his arms.

Tears filled his eyes.

Said I had to e strong

Said I had to be a big girl

Said he'd be home soon

Said I had to go home with Mommy now

Was time for him to get ready.

I left with Mommy...

We were still crying,

Sister loudest of all.

Got home

Sun's up now

Not going to school today

Went up to my room.

Crawl into bed,

Cry myself to sleep.

Daddy's going to the airport,

Will be six months 'til I see him again.

Had to grow up fast

Let no one see my tears

Make Daddy proud.

He's far away now

He's in a scary place

He wants to come home,

But he can't yet.

He has to fight the war.

That was my beginning,

I was now a child of war.