Veteran

A frail figure walks by me Drooping shoulders, and eyes that can't see Shoulders that once were broad and proud His words still commanding, though they aren't loud A ragged coat on his back to keep the winter away He salutes his flag, watches it sway With medals shining on his chest, he marches with grace His shoes torn yet so shiny, in it you can see your face With tears in his eyes, his medals he does offer As the nation doesn't have money in its coffer To feed and cloth him, to protect his dignity Forgetting how he fought our enemies without a trace of pity Isn't there something we can do, soldiers and civilians alike Can't we restore his sight, his pride, his might Should we just watch the spectacle of how from grace he fell Or should we make an effort so that his fears we can quell Wake up! Oh! great nation, from your slumber so deep We too have promises to keep Let us help him live, change the trend So he is at peace, when his days end