A Father's Goodbye

He knelt down on his knees,

Looked at her daughter in the eye for as long as he could,

Searching for words a four year old could understand.

A suffocated goodbye lingered on his lips,

As he gently tucked her long traces behind her ears

And while between his palms he held her angelic face

From the corner of his eye, a silent tear escaped.

With her little arms she hugged her father,

"Daddy will come home soon my love" he said, kissing her forehead.

"Promise Daddy?" She asked him with the most earnest eyes.

And a heart that could take many a bullets

Was torn apart with his daughter's most innocent of questions,

For he had no answer and all he could do was to hold her tight,

For father couldn't make promises, a solider couldn't keep,

As on the border there were battles,

That beckoned him to fight.