By Jason B. Ladd
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While I’m away
The mission’s first
We’ll put our best against their worst
But victory will fail to quench my thirst
While I’m away
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While I’m away
The silence settles in
The mood is calm, the air is thin
My kingdom for one morn’ of childrens’ din
While I’m away
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While I’m away
Diminished dawns
The flock is far, the shepherd gone
The sheep will grow and graze and carry on
While I’m away
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While I’m away
Fools worship golden cows
With laps aflame and loins aroused
Let God protect our covenant of sacred vows
While I’m away
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While you’re away
I start a new routine
The laundry’s neat, the house is clean
But soon I miss the manly mess unseen
While you’re away
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While you’re away
Our things break down
With no one to repair around
In projects left undone our lair abounds
While you’re away
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While you’re away
The evil freaks
Through sudden cricks and eerie creaks
Our settling house at nighttime speaks, I’m scared
While you’re away
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While you’re away
It’s not the same
I’m thankful for the few who came
To help me play this sacrificial game
While you’re away
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While he’s away
I’m turning ten
This milestone never comes again
I understand, but struggle now and then
While he’s away
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While he’s away
I run the bases
Looking in the stands for faces
Sad to see the empty spaces left
While he’s away
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While he’s away
I lose my teeth
And sleep with them at night beneath
The pillow where I cry myself to sleep
While he’s away
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While he’s away
It makes me sad
Sometimes I’m a little mad
How come others get to have my dad
While he’s away?
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While he’s away
I’ll start to walk
And look up for my daddy’s gawk
But nowhere will I find his eyes to lock
While he’s away
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While I’m away
Their father’s not around
I’ve taught them though, one comfort sound
Another Father always keeps them found
While I’m away
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This poem was shared with me by one of our readers. I think it is beautiful and very touching. Please go read this poem on Jason’s blog. He has some lovely photography that increases the power of his words.
