Army of One!

A Military Wife in the Army of One
You aren’t issued with the uniform, boots and weapon,
But you are one lady no one should step on.
It usually goes with this ring, I thee wed,
But add in even if it means me in an empty bed.
And the weeks in the field with many late nights,
Which will at some point lead to fights.
Yes, a military wife is courageous and strong,
Even when the days seem so long.
When you feel like you are at your wits end,
You suck it up and start to mend.
You learn the Army language,
All those acronyms, how can I manage.
PX, AAFES, LES, MOS – the list goes on and on,
All those letters would make an ordinary woman yawn.
But those letters are part of your life,
The life of a proud military wife.
You move too much and decorate too little,
Because you always seem to leave in the middle.
Do not get too settled and make lots of friends
Because home is wherever the Army sends.
And then one day the orders come down,
Your husband soon will be leaving town.
Up to 365 days or until mission complete
You know your heart just skipped a beat.
You stare at the orders in front of you,
This was a possibility you always knew.
Now life takes on new meaning
And the tears start streaming.
You hug each other tight and kiss farewell,
How you feel, words could never tell.
You go back to an empty home,
And try not to sit by the phone.
You wait, wonder and worry,
And hope this year goes by in a hurry.
Things are different now.
You will do things you once did not know how.
Yellow ribbons are a new accessory,
You make your outfit match it is a necessity
You cry when the National Anthem is played,
And you get your child that much-needed band-aid.
You have your daily chores, as always,
Except now you are the only one to sweep the hallways.
You are the only one
But you do it and try to have fun.
You say your prayers and wish on a star in the sky,
When he is back in your arms, you will forget the year that went by.
And you will think how strong you had become,
When you were truly the army of one.

So this is the poem that I read to my class of theatre majors, yes I know you can just imagine what a scene this was. Total. embarrassment. Not the poem just me! For the theatre class I’m in we have to all these different oral interpretations. We have done prose narrative, plays, and now poetry. So most of the people just did ordinary poets.

For all the other pieces I have picked either something I like or can relate to in some way. So with this I found this poem and fell in love. I totally got it and knew that I could interpret this! So I decided to go with it. Not even thinking that I would and could be emotional about it.

It is a touchy subject…

some days

So I went with it and got up in front of my class. We are graded on an introduction, emotions we derive, and emotions of the class. So I explained where Jono is and what he is doing for our country. I then explained what this poem meant to me and I felt I could really talk through this poem. Everyone was so excited because they all know about Brinn and love seeing pictures of her. I just really enjoy and respect all the different majors and walks a life that this little class brings! I leave so happy everyday because of the intelligent, amazing, wise people who I have met in this class.

Anyways…

I made all the way ok only three-fourths the way through it and cried my little eyes out. IN FRONT OF ALL THESE PEOPLE… ya crazy lady! It just all hit me and I wasn’t crying because I missed him or am angry that I don’t get to be with him. I cried because of HOW amazing HE IS and HOW MUCH I LOVE HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That was it

So after we do our poems we are supposed to sit down. I think I definitely had everyone’s attention the whole time so that was a plus. I think I showed my emotions very well! I think my intro was decent. So I’m thinking I did ok and I made it through the whole poem tears and crying the last part but unlike my ridiculous speech on graduation day in High School I did a little better so I’m proud!