Last night a warm rain fell

onto my arm that held a beer

 a few stars penetrated the cloud

and my bare feet

breathed in the cooling night air

some friends shared the sizzling pork

and now my wife is waiting

for our final night to begin

she will not sleep

she will check our daughter

come in and touch my back

I will feel each of her fingers

and the imprint of her palm

and it will stay forever there

my tattoo of home

and now I am standing

in my shiny black boots, my thick jacket and belt

with a bag on my shoulders

and my daughter sheds the tears

we dare not

for our parting must be sweet

to bring me back

bring me through

so when my feet are too hot

and a friend’s arm is gone

and dawn patrol

is riddled with bullets

I can know

when we here together

are done with our work

that I will lie tonight, alone

in the sanctuary of my bunk

and I will feel the tattoo

imprinting again

calling me home

to the garden with the stars