Casualty of War

The military snagged my dad in a draft,

Gave him a gun, put him at the door

Of a hovering craft.

Letters of love and longing were sent

Between countries, during a war

That didn't even make sense.

My mom was at home building our nest,

When a knock at the door said, "David is next.

To come home in a box

With a flag on top."

"What happened?," she cried.

"That big bird in the sky?

Shot down in flames. Didn't survive," 

They replied.

And just like that, at 8 months old,

I became a daughter who would never know

The unconditional love only a father shows.

And I was never the same

After that.