POEMS CHANGED WEEKLY

Dear Lord,

Give me greatness of heart to see,
The difference between duty and his love for me.

Give me the understanding so that I may know,
When duty calls him he must go.

Give me a task to do each day,
To fill the time when he's away.

When he goes out to sea,
Please bring him safely home to me.

When he must fly so high,
Watch over him and keep him nigh.

When he's in a foreign land,
Keep him safe in your loving hand.

When duty is in the field,
Protect him and be his shield.

And Lord, when deployment is so long,
Please stay with me and keep me strong.

How I Came To Love Big Stupid Men
by Ellen Schertler

Once upon a time, when I was just ten,
Momma read me stroies 'bout love and men.
Well they spoke of love and e-ternity
and not so long ago, I thought they was for me.

Sweet Prince Charming and his big white horse,
lots of babies, and marriage -of course.
The handsome doctor that cured the sick,
The oil tycoon that would make me rich.
The boy next door and love almighty,
well those were the men that made life exciting!

So, I grabbed me one of them there types
and got myself a marriage -all dressed in white.
He had all sorts of books and knowledge,
hell, a Phd and lots of college!
We had us a house, a dog, and some kids
He was clean and tidy -but he stunk in bed.

Just not happy, I didn't know how it could be
he was all of the things fairy tales said he should be.
At my wits end, I went out for the night
knowing my momma didn't read those books right.

Well, I was sitting at the bar, just a browsin' around
when this ol' boy named Buck came up and sat down.
Oh he was as fine as frog's hair and if that wasn't enough,
I asked him his name and he stared and said "huh"?

An Airborn Ranger so strong and lean,
he was packing some heat, and you know what I mean.
He was making me crazy with his world class phys-que,
and oh! that blank look made me quiver -how it made me weak.

Well he told me he liked hooters, thong panties, and beer.
He liked all kinds of women, and boy was that clear.
He didn't think or speak with much style or grace,
and how I loved that puzzeled look -always upon his face.

Oh his grunts and nodding, he talked without words...
he needed me to think for him, when his thoughts got blurred.
He was never condescending or superior in aires,
but when it came to vocabulalry...well, basically he swears.

I went home each and every night, after a night of stupid play,
to dream of seeing my big stupid man, soon on another day.
During breakfast I would think of him -in his sweaty PTs
and wonder if he found the post, without some help from me.

During Lunch, I would picute him, in his sexy BDUs
and think of all the "rucking" that man could really do.
At supper I would hurry, so I could be with him that night
to see him in a bar room, in another drunken fight.

Oh the raw testosterone that drove the beast to be
and how that brainless brawny man had a mighty hold on me.
He joined up with the service to "be all that he could be"
but what that man could really do -the Army would never see.

So to all the young women who those stories you will read,
skip out on ol' Price Charming and I bet that you will see,
loveless is the woman that chooses an educated sap
go grab a brawny brainless man and get him in the sack!

The Call
by Laine Estep

There she sits, by the phone
Willing it to ring,
Needing to hear those words of love
She knows that call will bring.

The hours pass, but pass so slow
And still there is no call
From her love so far away
As the tears start to fall.

Once again, the day drags by
She knows it's part of life
Spending days and night alone
When you're a military wife.

He goes because it is his duty
To protect the freedom of this land
She prays that God will keep him
Safely in His hand.

She kisses her children, tucks them in bed
And watches them as they sleep
She never knew that loneliness
Could ever run so deep.

She's had no word for three long weeks
She doesn't know if he's OK
She knows there is but one thing to do
And that one thing is Pray.

God must have been listening
As she bowed her head just then,
Because the phone started ringing
As she whispered "Keep him safe, Amen."

Before he hangs up the phone
She whispers, "I love you".
Her heart soars with joy again
When he says "I love you too."

There she sits by the phone
Not wanting the call to end
But thankful for the chance
Her love to him to send.

No matter where they are
They are never far apart
It takes more than distance
To separate their hearts.

For they were joined in love
And they meant those words for life
That has a special meaning
When you're a military wife.