A Salute to the Wives

The South Africans
Who provide security
Here in Iraq
Must leave
Their wives and children
Back home.
They are invariably
A hardy bunch,
But the women
Left behind
Are stronger still.
They must
Tough it out
On their own,
Often with no one
To lean on.
If something needs doing,
They do it,
And you don’t hear
Many complaints.
These guys understand
And respect
What it takes.
They know it isn’t easy,
And I’ll tell you this,
Unlike other places
I have been,
I have yet to hear
A one of them
Badmouth their mate.
There has to be
Something special
About those women,
And it is reflected
In the men they chose.