The Veterans Poem

Sandbar

10-Year Member
5-Year Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2009
Messages
91
A couple of days late but I wanted to share with all of you.




>
> He was getting old and paunchy
> And his hair was falling fast,
> And he sat around the Legion,
> Telling stories of the past.
> -
> Of a war that he once fought in
> And the deeds that he had done,
> In his exploits with his buddies;
> They were heroes, every one.
> -
> And ‘tho sometimes to his neighbors
> His tales became a joke,
> All his buddies listened quietly
> For they knew where of he spoke.
> -
> But we’ll hear his tales no longer,
> For ol’ Joe has passed away,
> And the world’s a little poorer
> For a Veteran died today.
> -
> He won’t be mourned by many,
> Just his children and his wife.
> For he lived an ordinary,
> Very quiet sort of life.
> -
> He held a job and raised a family,
> Going quietly on his way;
> And the world won’t note his passing,
> ‘Tho a Veteran died today.
> -
> When politicians leave this earth,
> Their bodies lie in state,
> While thousands note their passing,
> And proclaim that they were great.
> -
> Papers tell of their life stories
> From the time that they were young,
> But the passing of a Veteran
> Goes unnoticed, and unsung.
> -
> Is the greatest contribution
> To the welfare of our land,
> Some jerk who breaks his promise
> And cons his fellow man?
> -
> Or the ordinary fellow
> Who in times of war and strife,
> Goes off to serve his country
> And offers up his life?
> -
> The politician’s stipend
> And the style in which he lives,
> Are often disproportionate,
> To the service that he gives.
> -
> While the ordinary Veteran,
> Who offered up his all,
> Is paid off with a medal
> And perhaps a pension, small.
> -
> It is not the politicians
> With their compromise and ploys,
> Who won for us the freedom
> That our country now enjoys.
> -
> Should you find yourself in danger,
> With your enemies at hand,
> Would you really want some cop-out,
> With his ever-waffling stand?
> -
> Or would you want a Veteran
> His home, his country, his kin,
> Just a common Veteran,
> Who would fight until the end.
> -
> He was just a common Veteran,
> And his ranks are growing thin,
> But his presence should remind us
> We may need his likes again.
> -
> For when countries are in conflict,
> We find the Veteran’s part,
> Is to clean up all the troubles
> That the politicians start.
> -
> If we cannot do him honor
> While he’s here to hear the praise,
> Then at least let’s give him homage
> At the ending of his days.
> -
> Perhaps just a simple headline
> In the paper that might say:
> “OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
> A VETERAN DIED TODAY.”
> -
 
Back
Top