Duty Called

Soldier sitting by the door

riding the bus in ’64

just two and twenty he was then

going away ’till god knows when

riding a bus through Massachusetts

as the snow began to fall

the bus pulled in

to a road side diner

the soldier went in

and sat at the counter

where the coffee was hot

and the bacon just perfect

the waitress was pretty

the atmosphere pleasant;

and he thought to himself

I could stay here forever.

.

He wanted to stay

where life was still beautiful

where his girl could come join him

in the corner for dinner

a night of loving

limbs perfect and trembling

He sighed at the driver

when the time came to go

trudging back to the bus 

his boots crunching  snow

the magic still with him

wanting to stay

but going away

missing a Christmas

missing two

missing her