2025/Christian-

Our stuffed dragon rides where military orders,

Ramstein's Fall to White Sands fiery breath.

“You’re not normal kid,” like them to mortar–

A military brat learned to stretch every breadth.

Packed our lives into shadow boxes and movers,

Magnets, keepsakes, croissants, tempura–

And a Castle built from boxes moved over,

Where cherry blossoms bloom an aurora.

Short goodbyes I learned to speak of in short terms,

Smiles through fences and gates lined with barbed wire.

My home on shoes before a ever turning sky,

We moved with pain and joy, not always wanted.

And to you nyah, love, I leave you with the yellow fish,

We part for distance, not of the bond of what we had to share.

We’ll hold our bond, though oceans may spread between,

I hope we meet again with hearts alive with care.

Though I stand for anthems played, I stand with people I love,

With pabbi’s effort and mothers honest light.

Uniforms may fade, but my feelings and memories–

Will bring life to the people I have to leave, and me.

In every base, some of me will remain.

Nyah, though military life sucks for long connection,

Words cannot describe the emotion I feel when I look back on us,

While the military forces us apart, but you I’ll love everyday.

Neverstop being yourself. I love you.