My feelings when my son came home from Marine Basic Training

Just the other day, it seems
you were still my little boy
chasing butterflies and dreams
with the effervescent joy
of childhood. But today
you return and what a change--
not the youth I sent away
but a man, completely strange.

"Mom, we call this 'dress blues'..."
Whose is this stern-eyed face?
From close-clipped hair to shining shoes
who is this man in my son's place?
There's so much I can't recall:
When did your voice become so deep?
When was it you grew so tall?
Was I blind or just asleep?

Yesterday your gun was a toy--
Today you stand out above the crowd
and this man, grown from my boy,
is making me so sad, so proud....