Joel Lavenson
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Have you ever kissed a letter,
when far away from home?

Have you ever read the words,
that erase you are alone?

And clutched them in your hands
like a life line to your soul

And read them, and said them, over
like a chant to make you whole?

Have you ever been so confused,
and wonder how you arrived?

At a place so strange and foreign
that you wonder to survive?

Have you ever felt the slightest good,
And now realize, it is great!

And have counted all the "take for granteds"
all over again,
and this time make no mistake?

Have you ever longed for home
And wondered if anybody there

Had the slightest pause or concern
And wondered if they cared?

Have you ever served your country
When others thought you wrong

Or defended our flag
And been called a fool
instead of being strong?

Have you ever wondered if
the greater good was served

If this will end up
with getting peace we all deserve

Have you ever known committment
AND doubted, but stayed the course
And did it anyway
and put aside remorse

Have you sacrificed for others
who some seemed so unimpressed
Yet counted on your sense of duty
to take away their distress?

Have you ever felt the only ones important
you can count on one hand
And the power of your letter
no one could understand?

How the comfort of a phrase
and knowing that the hand
The wrote the words you read
are from your native land

It is proof, they are holding a place
for you to return - Please Soon

Safe and honored and sung
And you wouldn't trade the moon

For one sweet sound and taste of home
From a loved one or a friend

Who knows you are doing good
And the good is, in the end,

The only way we know
we have not done in vain
by giving leal and loyalty
What has taken all this strain.

Have you ever kissed a letter
You felt was kissing you?

Then back in your pocket
To do what you gotta do.?

And pulled it out from time to time
To stay in touch with YOU
The love that has been smuggled in
To do What they gotta do.

To tell you how honored we all are
To love and support you?

Have you ever kissed a letter
like it was your whole life

In your hands that moment
to take away your strife.

Have you ever kissed a letter?

Then you will surely know,
the feelings of the soldier

Whose face to us does show.

The lonely world he lives in
feeling so all alone

And how the love from another
Can bring him right back home.

Have you ever kissed a letter,
or better still
Have you honored anyone
To whom this all is real.?

So write your letters, kiss them from you
Because somewhere there is a soldier

Who needs to hold that kiss from you.

God Bless You all. We shall weep for you,
we will honor you and we will
sing of you

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Written by a soldier to a soldier.
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poem ©2004 Joel Lavenson
photo courtsesy of Associated Press
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