I never looked back the day I left
A thing I always seem to neglect
Something my mother noted

Whether I was going to school for the first time
Or for Basic Training
Or going to Iraq

The day my mother said she wasn’t at home
The day she set out, and I was left alone
I couldn’t say what was in my heart
The sorrow choked me before I could start

A hug through tears is all I could muster
Followed by a rushed exit
Again, neglecting to look back