“IF HE DOESN’T COME HOME”

By: Mrs. Jessica Pavillard, Wife of SSG Scott Pavillard

If he doesn’t come home this time,
Please, God, allow my feminine shoulders to bear Worldly weights left by his long absence.
Should I lose my soul mate on this tour

If he doesn’t come to me, to our world
Grant me grace in knowing that my love
He knows, that it embraces him even in the dust
Thick red-muck earth his boots will walk countless miles

If he cannot come home to his children
Allow me skill to soften the stab of that steely knife
Give me the words I can use to ease pain of loss
When I will be blinded by it myself

If he sacrifices his life with, and for, his brothers and sisters, Understand my grief goes hand in hand with my pride.
That he stands beside them, that he does his duty,
He is and will always be my Hero.

If he doesn’t come home from this war,
Please, God, if this happens to him, take him fast
Do not let him suffer, do not make him endure torture
He deserves no such hardships, my brave Soldier.

If he does not come home to me and war keeps him,
I will be cried empty, but breathing, I will continue my job
I will count days, waiting for my steps to slow, for my hair to whiten When I again will be wrapped within him, buried in damp earth.

If he does not come home to me this time,
Whisper to him before his lids forever close, softly
My sweet shining star, my rain, my coffee maker, my Prince,
Remind my warrior that my heart goes wherever he does
Always…

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard