My son called from college one day,

“Mom, I’ve got great news!”

He wanted to be a soldier, he said,

“What have I got to lose?”

“What a big decision,” I said,

“Don’t walk into it blind,”

“They’ll train me well and pay for school,

Mom, I’ve already made up my mind.”

My heart was in my stomach

As I sat there with a tear,

“Why did you choose my baby?” I asked,

“Ma’am, he volunteered.”

The recruiter sold my son a dream,

“Sir, you’re one of us now,”

And never had I felt such fear,

“Ma’am, you should be proud.”

And there he stood, before the flag,

His hand atop his heart,

Swearing in to serve his country,

His commitment about to start.

He disappeared into their world,

And though it was never my plan,

Today, I see what he has become,

a soldier and proud, young man.