Dear Man in the Green
I believe I saw you that other day,
that day I was at the playground.
I saw you hugging and bidding farewell,
while your mommy didn't make any sound.
Instead, I believe I saw her tears,
though I didn't know what that meant.
I didn't know that the moment you left,
meant I was never going to see you again.
I remember that time when you patted my head,
and admitted I was the braver one.
Then you took out a candy from your big-front pocket,
and I was surprised when I saw your gun.
When I went home and told mommy,
that I saw you; the man in the green,
she told me that I should say thank you.
and I replied with a "What do you mean?"
I remember when you came home that rainy Christmas,
and your mommy was happier than ever.
That I was confused about her reaction,
what was happy about being in this weather?
And then I guess that that was it,
the next day you left without goodbye,
I promised myself I would greet you with hello,
next time you forgot to say hi.
But you didn't come back,
for another year or so,
and I spent my days,
with your mommy in the cold
Everyday I would wait outside,
in front of the door to your home,
I wouldn't go in,
instead I stood outside,
next to your mommy's garden gnome.
I never got tired of doing so,
because I had planned so much to say,
I had to say that thank you and hello,
and then there were those promises you made.
Then I remember that September day,
when I came home, back from school.
This time, I took a seat outside,
I'd brought my own little stool.
A black car came,
and I jumped for joy,
thinking it was finally you.
I ran to the car,
screaming "You're here",
to be greeted with a hand gesture of shoo
2 large men stepped out of the car,
and walked up to the door of your home,
when it was opened, they took their hats off, said "I'm sorry",
while your mommy whimpered out a moan.
I didn't know what was happening,
but next I was standing in front of a box,
it was maybe a treasure box covered with a flag,
childish me had thought.
But your mommy told me that you were gone,
somewhere safe, somewhere up in heaven,
and that's when I realized that I would never,
never ever see you again.
I cried and cried,
hugging the box,
I didn't want to believe the truth.
I never got to say hello,
or my perfectly planned thank you.
For the next few days,
I said I hate you,
over and over again.
why did God choose to take you?
when bad guys enjoyed their life on land.
over time I learned you were a hero,
I took pride in saying you were my friend.
Whenever I go back to the states,
you're always the first I visit, the first place to where I attend.
I hope your life up there in heaven,
is all peaceful and happy as you want.
I hope that up there you can be selfish,
and not protect anyone.
I hope you can hear my thank yous,
that I say to you every day,
I hope you can hear my hellos,
even the ones I say in my mind, and not pray.
You helped me learn how to move on,
and not get stuck in sorrow all the time,
and you also helped me realize,
not everyone has to shine.
You'd think I had forgotten you,
but now you know I have not,
I hope I can become someone like you,
Thanks to you, I know, this is a lesson that has been well taught.
Thank you.
Love,
Yeena
