“Dear Soldier,

You’ve been gone for about,

Four years now.

Kiana is five years old,

She’s growing up way too fast.

You missed her first step,

Her first word.

It was “Daddy,”

In case you wanted to know.  

We miss you a lot,

Especially this time of year.

Its Christmas morning,

Kiana is home in bed, still sleeping.

I’m out in the snow,

I didn’t want to bring her today.

I brought her here last time,

She asked me, ‘Mommy,

Why are you crying? Daddy

He’ll be back soon. He won’t leave us.’

It’s cold now, I should get home.”

She put the letter down on the grave,

And whispered, “Merry Christmas,”

And walked back home in the snow,

Alone.