When you were just our little boy, on many a night we crept <br /> Unto your cot and watched o'er you, and all the time you slept. <br /> We tucked the covers round your form and smoothed your pillow, too, <br /> And sometimes stooped and kissed your cheeks, but that you never knew. <br /> Just as we came to you back then through many a night and day, <br /> Our spirits now shall come to you- to kiss and watch and pray. <br /> <br /> Whenever you shall look away into God's patch of sky <br /> To think about the folks at home, we shall be standing by. <br /> And as we prayed and watched o'er you when you were wrapped in sleep, <br /> So through your soldier danger now the old-time watch we'll keep. <br /> You will not know that we are there, you will not see or hear, <br /> But all the time in prayer and thought we shall be very near. <br /> <br /> The world has made of you a man; the work of man you do, <br /> But unto us you still remain the baby that we knew; <br /> And we shall come, as once we did, on wondrous wings of prayer, <br /> And you will never know how oft in spirit we are there. <br /> We'll stand beside your bed at night, in silence bending low, <br /> And all the love we gave you then shall follow where you go. <br /> <br /> Oh, we were proud of you back then, but we are prouder now; <br /> We see the stamp of splendor God has placed upon your brow, <br /> And we who are the folks at home shall pray the old time prayer, <br /> And ask the God of Mercy to protect you with His care. <br /> And as we came to you of old, although you never knew, <br /> The hearts of us, each day and night, shall come with love to you.<br /><br />Edgar Albert Guest<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/we-who-stay-at-home/
