The Old Vet
Sitting on the corner old Chicago Pete would smile and wave,
Said he was a medic in the war and a many a man’s life did old Pete save.
He himself was wounded several times and finally lost an arm,
But talking to him you’d think he’s led a life that’s been truly blessed and charmed.
He said I wanted to serve my country but I didn’t want to fight,
Said they offered to train me as a medic and I said that would be alright.
Said the hardest part was holding a wounded soldiers hand and knowing he would die,
Looking into their eyes and making yourself smile, all the while wanting to cry.
He said war is so brutal, the worse thing mankind has done,
How can anyone claim victory, claiming that they have won.
Many, many nights I still see the faces of those young men that gave their all,
And it’s a shame the best way we can honor them is to inscribe their name upon some wall.
He said it’s a good thing don’t get me wrong,
But there are too many names and the wall is too long.
And he said think of the mothers who never got to hold their grandkids now that’s a shame,
Usually greed and power are the culprits the ones to blame.
As I turned to walk away I saluted old Pete and wished him well,
The old guy touched my heart with his glorious and awesome tale.
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