Daddy Wears Dog Tags

Daddy wears dog tags and flight boots
He smells like Old spice and BDU’s

We walk through the Commissary and everyone salutes
The man that grounded me on Friday night
and taught me to ride a bike

“At ease”, he says
and I giggle
because they don’t know he’s not really scary
all the time

When Fighters rip through the sky
I say, “That’s MY Daddy doing the touch and go”
I wave because he might see me down here
and blow kisses

Sometimes, he flies faster than sound
But he always makes the worlds worst oatmeal

When he tucks me in at night, he tells me about the sky at dawn
and what it looks like from the cockpit
I tell him about Ballet and princesses and the boys down the street

Sometimes he lets me wear his helmet
it smells in there
but he laughs so hard when I do ballet
in his flight gear

He tells me that I will always be his little toad
I hate being a toad
but when he says that he loves me forever
I forgive him

Reviews

[absent]

Wow, I want this to be a happy poem, but since you mention dog tags, and fighter planes, I just get this sense of foreboding that all might not end well. That being said, this poem made me smile and it's nice to read a positive poem for once. My favorite part was her blowing kisses so he might see them (sooper cute). Great write!

[Elizabeth]

This was Cold War era USAF and thank God it did end well. He's chillin' with his dog enjoying retirement :) Thank you.

[Richard]

:)

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you for sharing the amazing story. I was a Soldier for 15 years. Hard to balance family and the military. I like the description of the father's gear. A perfect ending to a outstanding poem.
Coyote

[Elizabeth]

Thank you. This is from a mashup of memories of being stationed at Edwards AFB. His helmet stunk!! But I loved it. And I love him. Thank you for your service.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

i really like this piece...the admiration for the father...the love felt being his girl...and then the toad comment...but that's okay...he shows me the sky in the morning...he recreates sunrises and sunsets..and he wears those boots...so i'll be his toad...as long as i can wear his helmet.

you are quite the writer Elizabeth...

[Elizabeth]

Thank you for the kind review. He's quite a father, too xo

[lee von cleef]

Toad frog ,to be throw up and caught,the glory of holding a little girl,letters of love,good to put down all these feelings, better to share them if you can.

[Shimmerbliss/CAF]

I love the feel of this, the true to childhood way you expressed such love for this man who commanded respect, loved the adventure of the sky, and listened to your tales of your own world of ballet and princesses just as intently. A joy to read and reminded me of my own father.

[Elizabeth]

Thank you so much. He was, is, and always will be my heart.

[Shimmerbliss/CAF]

I understand.

[paul]

i like toads.
i'm not so crazy about being a person.

[Elizabeth]

I hear you on that!! That was his name for me when I was small. I loved it. NOT. But I love HIM, so I suppose I can live with it.

[KAOlmsted]

This is so sweet, I'm literally tearing up right now *laugh/sob* What a beautifully written tribute to your father; I sincerely hope is able to read this and appreciate what a fine young woman he raised.

[Elizabeth]

Thank you :)

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

It is funny how differently we see each other.. it is always nicer to know the person on a deep level, especially a parent.

[Elizabeth]

That's exactly what I was going for on this one. Thanks :)

[The Rock And Roll Cowboy(REBEL WITH A CAUSE)]

My pleasure.

[Baby Ricochet]

cute.