An American Soldier

An American Soldier

A 20 year old veteran sits on the sidewalk
His legs blown off in the Iraqi sand
He obeyed Washington when they told him to fight
He killed when he was told to
He served his country the best he could
Now he has no job and no home
Most people walk by him without a glance
He collects pennies just to buy a hamburger
Money given him by people driving fancy cars
He spends his nights in a shelter
Sharing a room with drug addicts and lunatics
The government doesn't care about him
He lost that when he lost his legs
He will continue to fight
He will fight for food or a bed
He will fight to keep his dignity
What little dignity he has left
He will live and he will be remembered by someone
Maybe by the person who gave him 25 cents one morning
Then again maybe no one will remember him
After all he was just a beggar on the street
And who remembers them
Copyright © | Year Posted 2012

Poem

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