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Soldier

As I laced up my tennis shoes
I hurried to meet up with you
and ran to find you getting off the bus
And when I saw you standing there
in uniform so debonair
I was hoping everyone would notice us
As you picked up your duffel bag
we walked, and you took off your cap
and put it on my forehead just for fun
And as my curiosity
began to get the best of me
I asked you if you’d ever shot a gun
My mother said that you’d been gone
you’d gone to fight in Vietnam 
I couldn’t have been no more than nine or ten
With pride I walked right next to you
And wondered if you felt it too
Or would you feel anything again?

Copyright © Gayle Rodd | Year Posted 2017

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Freddie Robinson Jr. Date: 8/17/2017 3:08:00 PM Very profound ending to this powerful poem, Gayle. Mine debut read of your poetic art. Thoroughly enjoyable read. Excellent poetry, dear. May love light your path always. Login to Reply Gayle Rodd Date: 8/17/2017 6:07:00 PM Thank you so much Freddie. I was wondering if anybody would 'get' that? I guess I wanted to convey the soldier who returns with a feeling of 'dead inside'. My heart goes out to them.

Cheryl Hoffman Date: 5/15/2017 8:43:00 AM Very nice nostalgic write about your Vietnam veteran Dad Gayle; heart touching memories is a great thing to replay in our hearts and minds after their gone...~Che :) Login to Reply Gayle Rodd Date: 5/17/2017 5:44:00 AM Thanks Cheryl. This was actually about a cousin of my mother's but I can only remember bits and pieces of it!