America the Free

America the Free © Ben Burton 11-11-2014 Atrocities of war That mortify the soul So bravely have they fought With freedom as their goal But there's an afterlife For combat veterans A stark reality That is too often shunned By those of us who've reaped Rewards from what they've done Meanwhile, they have to cope With horrors from the front But life must carry on Tomorrow's a new day I heard one soldier speak Here's what he had to say "Don't dwell on what you've lost On pieces left behind You still have your right hand Your left foot's working fine Bronze stars and purple hearts Nice tokens of your deeds But they won't buy a lunch Of burgers, fries and tea A bottle offers warmth And helps to cloud your mind But there's a life to live That should not be denied A gentle summer breeze Conversing with a friend About the here and now And not the might-have-beens You know what you've achieved For liberty lives on Those scars and missing limbs Can't be allowed to taunt Go forth with what you have And proud of what you've got Remembering your pals Who got no second shot The rest is up to you For with your victory You too still have a home In America the free"