Sharing in honor of Valentines Day . . . 

I remember writing this the night my husband

returned home from Iraq.

It was his third and last homecoming

from that faraway place . . .

He’s since retired.

The sight of those boots laying there at our bedside

was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.

Dust from another world,

soles worn from wear,
the color of sand,
wrinkled and creased
from the miles
marched in,
fought in,
slept in.

Dappled with the
darkened stains
from fallen sweat
and silent tears.

On the floor
by the bedside
they lay,
weary from war.

Worn with pride
ready again for service,
but now they rest
beside the bed where
the soldier sleeps.

Safe, loved,
home with me.

When tomorrow comes
a little boy
will wear the boots,
clumsily making his
way around the house.

He doesn’t know
where those
boots have been,
he just knows
they are his daddy’s
and he is home
again . . .

Crystal R. Cook