Vet's Poem (Sorry it's a day late but worth a read) 8)

[DiveDeepSix]

So touching and so true, and it hits home with  almost all of us who had family members in the Service thru the last 3 Major Wars, and the recent conflicts. A beautiful poem to honor  them all for Veteran's Day.

 

 

 

 

A POEM WORTH READING
 

 

        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."

 

[Rayzur]

Thanks for sharing such a  great poem DD6......