To Serve and Protect

He'd served his country
  Kept us out of harm's way
His classmates now married
  First babies on the way

Came back trim and fit
  But he couldn't fit in
No money for dating
  For casinos, rum and gin

No job market for him
  He could forget about that
With a high school diploma
  He'd start as a doormat

The country said thank you
  Soldier, on Veterans Day
Now one by one his old friends
  ~ Turn quietly away
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

Poem

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Krutsinger Avatar
November 18, 2020 at 6:03 AM
This is so true, and often in war after war after war. Wow. Sadly so true....How horrible and yet how TRUE! Nice one.
Wolf Avatar
November 18, 2020 at 5:00 PM
Right! It really infuriates me how veterans are treated. They put their life on the line for the very people who sneer at them. Unreal to me.
Michael Avatar
November 17, 2020 at 3:24 PM
Nice one...They must be better prepared when leaving the service...too many were lost senselessly...
Wolf Avatar
November 17, 2020 at 3:28 PM
Absolutely a great thought, Arturo. Why don't those in charge in the services think like you?! Cheers, Gershon
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