Boys Came Back (for the Foster Five)
by Jason Tomlinson 

What’s a mom to do at wartime with her boys being deployed?
every week every day every moment no way to avoid 
the constant reminders that threaten her peace 
around every corner it did not cease
because it wasn’t just one that was all the way over there
BUT IT WAS FIVE I do declare 
that every day was a battle of the mind
circumstances completely unkind 
and something as simple as checking the mailbox 
carried the weight of a bucket of rocks 
a burden to be sure because who knows?
will this be the day to fulfill the woes 
of her worst fears who can say?
but this was her duty every day
check the mail and hope for the best
despite her heart jumping out of her chest 
but there was no telegram no post no letter to her name
the bad news never saw her address remarkably it never came
days became weeks became months to the stack
bad news never came BUT THOSE BOYS CAME BACK