Balancing Both Worlds

Military and civilian,
Married to both-
Spouse and Country.

And once again, it’s time-
To pick up and go.

The constant goodbyes,
The tears, the uncertainty-
Yet we continue.

Our jobs are never the same-
Overqualified, underqualified, oversaturated.
But still, we continue.

The children again–
New routines,
New schools,
New friends.

Their plans shattered,
Their dreams changed.

Learning to adapt,
Fearful of setting roots,
To avoid the painful goodbyes.

PCS, deployments, orders–
They remember the service members, as they should,
But forget the spouse, the children-
We are the extra luggage.

Drop everything and go,
To new lands,
New homes,
Families torn apart.

They say we should be grateful,
They say we signed up for this-

Tears wiped away,
Fears brushed aside,
Our hearts are breaking as we say goodbye, once again.

Pushing through the changes and moves-
Cheering our service member from the sidelines.

Exhausted, overwhelmed, alone at times,
But always, always preparing to pick up and go.

Still, we serve in silence, in strength, in love.

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