Terry Ireland Poet Rhyme

Fit For Work

Nine years he served his country
Then nursed in Mental Health
None of his professions being
Much good for his wealth.
Physical ill health
Brought work to an end
Very little hope that 
His condition would ever mend.

I watched him cry today 
Face covered in tears,
Drawn expression of anxiety
As he tried to explain his fears.
Fit for work they’d said
In the job centre up town,
Gave him a job advisor
And cut his payments down.

Degenerative spinal disorder 
So at times he can scarcely walk,
You can hear the pain in his voice
Every time  he starts to talk.
Nowadays there’s more often
The  silence of despair,
He’s losing all hope
Starting not to care.

Once again the food parcels
Hoping  for more success
As  we repeat the facts for
Yet another appeals process.
We don’t always  win
But we never stop trying"
Driven on by the sight 
Of a grown man crying.

I watched him cry today, 
Listened while he spoke
Shared  the black humour
Of a typical squaddie joke.
Arranged to see him next week
Putting faith in my hope 
I don’t arrive to find him
Hanging from a rope.

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Ilene Bauer September 5, 2022 at 12:30 PM terry - your writing about veterans is always very powerful but at the same time very sad. you do them an honor by telling their stories... Terry Ireland September 5, 2022 at 1:52 PM As ever, thanks Ilene. There is a world wide Veteran Commumity working together to help each other. We all have so much in common regardless of age or nationality. We help when others can’t because they don’t have that shared experience. I try to help by writing and publicly performing my poetry and live in hope.

Jeff Kyser September 5, 2022 at 7:14 AM My heart goes to you, your friend, and those veterans who faced unspeakable horrors most of us will never imagine and return with lifelong injuries. I hope your friend finds peace and freedom from pain. Terry Ireland September 5, 2022 at 9:26 AM Thanks Jeff. It took a total od 2 years to get his appeal heard and passed and then he moved on. The last i heard he was doing well.