I don’t know the man who stands
camouflaged, in green battledress,
feet apart, straight back, still hands,
unwitting, not dressed to impress.

Camouflaged in green battledress,
hard-cropped head turned away,
unwitting, not dressed to impress,
despite glossed boots, badged beret.

Hard-cropped head turned away
exposing bare vulnerable neck,
despite glossed boots, badged beret,
braced shoulders – a flawed effect.

Exposing bare, vulnerable neck,
pulse rippling beneath soft skin,
braced shoulders, a flawed effect,
veiled gaze, attention within.

Pulse rippling beneath soft skin,
my son’s rifled brow, drilled with lines,
veiled gaze, attention within -
then blue eyes lift, smile into mine.

My son’s rifled brow, drilled with lines,
feet apart, straight back, still hands,
then blue eyes lift, smile into mine
and I see my boy in the eyes of the man.