I saw my Papa in the woods today 

He was sitting on an old fallen down tree that looked as tired as he was. 

Whistling for the dog that had taken off. 

It seemed as if with each whistle he floated away with the faint screech that left his mouth,

Rolling off his tongue like the words of a fallen soldier. 

It seemed as though his legs were too tired to stand 

As he sits and waits for a dog that is long gone. 

I stand waiting for him to notice that his munchkin is waiting for him 

The light breeze blowing through my hair seems to let him know I am here 

His head lifts to the sky as he takes a deep breath and turns toward me. 

A smile comes across his face like the sun makes a sunflower dance in the warm summer heat. 

It's as if that same wind that let him know I was with him brought him to his feet as he made his way over to me. 

“Hey munchkin I missed you” are the faint words that seem to flow from his pale lips as he wrapped me in his hallowed arms. 

We walk down to the water,

His legs too tired to stand anymore as we sit on a flatten out rock, 

Our feet dangle in the water, as the slight tide rolls over them like a wave of forgotten words.

We sit in silence as we watch the leaves dance down from the trees and make peace with the water. 

“I think it’s my time I must go now” are the words I had been dreading to hear.

“Stay a little longer please...I miss you, it's been so hard without you” 

“I know my sweet angel but I must go. 

I am more proud of you than you’ll ever know but my time has come,

Just know that when the wind blows through your hair,

When the summer sun kisses your cheek,

When the water flows over your feet,

And when a snowflake embraces for hair,

When I am no longer with you,

I am.” 

And just like that he floats away like the leaves that had made peace with the water

A soldier's last words floating through the breeze,

Gone but never forgotten.