Best Veteran Poems
No Wait in Vain : Poets Meet
For decades I waited
and you did not come
to listen to my rude insertion
finger a sound at back of my throat
and the vibration of my name
For decades I wanted to meet
a small mountain as I read her
plain words in innocence
a bell in her Heart rang deep
with children running sweet
For decades I longed to touch
a struggling mottled moth
as he ached for new wings
smooth ebony cheeks
passionate with letters of adoration
For decades I watched for
a painter to mirror my songs
uncover a talkative witch who
still trampled from place to place
broken shoes echoing my silent breath
For decades I wanted a smooth ride
where conversation was free of tasks
words on both seats of equal length
with ripe apricots for the scoffing
almond chocolates wrapped in red
So I upped my thumb to a veteran one
who read from his leathered collection
notepads and pencils strewn about
space in warehouse oozed slivered glee
No wait in vain !
I sat beneath a Veteran-oak,
In awe of His strength—
Here was a solid spirit!
Sympathy you get from Willow,
But stiff upper-lip from old soldiers,
With forged bark —
His limbs flexed, cut, rippled against the wind…
No chinks in this warrior-wood…
“Divide and Conquer!”
Then I thought of my Father—
A cook at the end of the war—The Big One!
You know the One I mean, as if there are small ones—
When the commanders were through eating
He was instructed to toss the leftovers
From the belch of plates—
Trashcans were in the alley,
The steel that seems intrinsic to battles
In one form or another—
The hungry German children
Would sneak pass the guards
And line-up;
My father would sneak pass his superiors
And his honor
To dispense carefully wrapped scraps…
Well, soon the line was out into the street
As my father was compelled to seek food
From wherever he could steal, beg or barter
To procure—This brought attention—the cat-out-of-the-bag,
And all hell down on my father,
As the captain screamed: Gus, these are the enemy (the children in the alley),
What in God’s Name are you doing?
He was forced to stop—no Court Marshal though…
I looked up again at the old oak,
Through the snarled branches
Deep into the staunch soldier,
Where I spied a nest
In a small, compact fork—
Having a canopy of extra leaves
For shade and shelter from the wind—
I smiled—hum…
His bark reddened, but like my father, no apology from this weathered soldier…
White stars, red and white stripes.
Blue for loyalty.
Waving in the wind, instilling pride.
Reminding us of pledge.
Apple pie, Chevrolet, John Wayne.
Viet Nam, Gulf War,
Freedom of speech, freedom riders,
Free to think, free to be the best we can be.
Texas, California, Iowa, from sea to shining me.
State pride, rawhide, courageous side.
A cultural mix unheard of before the Pilgrims landed, and the Natives
Took pity and helped them live.
Thanksgiving, 4th of July, Veterans of Foreign Wars,
Germans, French, Italians, Scots, Swedes, African Americans.
All Americans, all united in that.
911 Hero pride.
Sacrifices. Pride to all of us, they were Americans.
All for one, a nation under God, my Country Tis of Thee
8/27/2018 My Country Tis of Thee Contest Sponsor: Brahn Bailey
Recently I watched a program on the Vietnam war
And I realized even more what these soldiers stood for
They were living in trenches that they called home
Sometimes being alone, and just thinking about the unknown
They were always under constant attack
But they always knew the other soldiers had their back
All they wanted to do was survive
And try for everyone to stay alive
Some days they watch their fellow soldiers die
And they would look up in the sky and cry
Each soldier in this country has fought for our freedom
And today our soldiers have pleaded
On solutions that are still needed
Today some are homeless, and some need medical care
Nothing that is going with our veterans are fair
A lot of these veterans has P.T.S.D
These our strongest and bravest veterans
That you will ever meet in your lifetime
So today in this country is the right time
To show them love, and everything in the end will turn out fine
Thank you for your faith
In the country you so love
That you’d offer up your life
In a cataclysmic strife.
Thank you for your courage
Although you shook inside.
You did all that was needed
No matter what the price.
The noise of guns and mortar
Convulsed the fetid air
You saw beloved comrades
Lie bleeding at your side.
You suffered pain and conflict
When required to kill another
Against what you’d been taught,
To love, not hate, your brother.
We call you strong and brave,
And admire your fortitude.
But the toll that it has taken
Is in your mind and soul.
To kill for love of country
And the freedoms we possess
Takes strength we can’t imagine
And thanks are not enough.
Our Broken Wings
Held in Our Hearts of Gold
And I am Torn Too
To Shreds
Our feathers shed,
Clawed by The Cat of all Predators
My heartless heart
And I Kneel weary before Our Rising Sun
Bathed once more
In the Glory
Of coming home...
Today is the day we honor,
the noble and the brave,
the men and woman who dedicated their lives,
and the sacrifices that they have made.
When America had an urgent need,
they were the first to raise their hand,
without thinking twice about it,
they were proud to take a stand.
Some came back from war with battle scars,
others in flagged draped coffins,
even though their flesh may have left,
their spirits will never be forgotten.
They unselfishly and knowingly,
put their lives on the line,
so when you see a veteran, thank them,
cause without them, freedom would have died.
What is a Veteran?
A veteran is a man ,or woman that has been to war
and fought for our Country and our freedom.
A Veteran is sometimes an unsung hero. One that
we never hear about and sometimes He, or she
is just forgotten.
Today I want to say to our Veterans - you are our
heroes. you put your life on the line for us. The ones
that lost their lives are now in God's hands, but you
are still here. You might have lost an arm, or a leg,
maybe both legs - you did it in the line of duty.
Maybe you still have both arms and both legs, that
don't mean that you didn't lose anything in the war.
You could have lost your best friend, or many friends.
Now you only have memories.
Today my Veteran I want you to know - that if it
wasn't for you, we would not be able to enjoy the
freedom that we enjoy today. It is not free - you
have paid a high price for it. Thank for being the
special hero you are. This is what I think a
Veteran is...
Written o 02/15/2011 by
Lucilla M. Carrillo
The Veteran and the young soldier
I have seen war inside out.
The war is something I barely know about.
I had to beat a man and watch him die.
Just loosing someone would be sheer horror.
I shot a gun and thrown a grenade.
I can’t aim, my skill may not gain.
I fought in bullets.
It’s my turn now I’ll answer the call and did not fall.
I have done my part and I have no regrets.
I can't back down now I'll do my best
Prayer for a Homeless Veteran
By Bob Corson
From the mountains in Afghanistan to the shores of Normandy
Brave American men and women risked their lives for you and me
God bless our veterans, brave bold and free
Stand behind them and praise them
They have fought to protect our liberty
They came from the mountains, from the prairies
From near the oceans white with foam
God bless our veterans
We owe them our lives and our home
He had a good job when he went off to war
But when he returned it was there no more
Unemployment ran out, so did his wife
He turned to the streets and began a new life
His clothes are all tattered as is his soul
Living on the street once paved with gold
He’s not a drunk, and he has no addiction
Posttraumatic stress disorder his only affliction
God bless our veterans, brave bold and free
Stand behind them and praise them
They have fought to protect our liberty
He sold all his medals for a room and a meal
God only knows the pain that he feels
He sleeps on a bench or under bridges all alone
God please help him get a place of his own
We feed and house immigrants from terrorist nations
While our hero has to beg for one days rations.
If every American just gave a few bucks
It would help our hero down on his luck
God bless our veterans, brave bold and free
Stand behind them and praise them
They have fought to protect our liberty
They come from the mountains, from the prairies
From near the oceans white with foam
God Bless Our Veteran
Please help him find a home of his own God help him find a home of his own
First Place, Poetry Section, VA Hospital Arts Competition, May 17, 2014
I am what others didn't want to know
I went where others feared to go.
My training in violence was nothing new,
But I did well what they were afraid to do.
I don't hate those who refused to go
I did it for my country, not for show.
An eternal loneliness beyond the pale
Was my certain reward should I fail.
I have seen terror's deathly face
And feared to go, but kept the pace,
Enwrapped in the cold sting of fear
I fought for buddies and those I hold dear.
I've known sweet love and a moment's kiss
And wished for all the world I could stay with this.
But I was committed and I knew my lot
To live out death and dangers best forgot.
Shrouded deep in the stink of death
I've cried aloud and tried to catch my breath,
While my soul screamed out to God where I'd been
To just once more escape the living pain, again.
Going where others wouldn't go
Knowing what others wouldn't know,
I am the stuff of legends and lores
I am a veteran of my nation's wars.
I ask only a moment of your day.
A moment of silence out of the way,
Ask only that you honor the debt
Of freedom bought: don't forget.
by E. Marshall Evans
Thank you for your service,
For your time in green or blue.
For all the times you suffered,
For all you had to do.
Thank you for your service,
For the injuries and wounds you bore.
For lost time with friends and family,
For going off to war.
Thank you for your service,
For standing watch on cold dark nights.
For being brave when others fled,
For keeping the enemy in your sights.
Thank you for your service,
To those who served overseas.
To those who sacrificed everything,
To those who kept me free.
Thank you for your service,
When few would answer the call.
For men and women like you,
Ensure that Liberty is enjoyed by all.
You fought as bravely as the others.
When you were wounded, yes you bled.
You loved each other as if brothers
And those who died were truly dead.
It was a quite unpopular war.
Our country's leaders were to blame.
It should not have been you soldiers who
Came home to silence, even shame.
Only your families welcomed you,
You lucky ones who came back home.
Your jobs were gone, your futures too.
Ill health and muddled minds for some.
When I meet you, Viet Nam Veteran,
There are some words I need to say.
I'd like to walk up to you, shake your hand
And welcome you the rightful way.
Thank you. (the spacing goes wild on me. I can't correct it.)
8/23/14
I Am a Veteran
By Franklin Price
11/3/2015
I am a veteran growing old
Always went where I was told
Followed orders to the “T”
Volunteered that was just me
Basic training taught a lot
Learned to march to take a shot
Make a bunk exactly right
Pulled KP into the night
Torn down to be built up
Became a dog from just a pup
When I arrived was just a kid
Left an adult you know I did
Trained in skills I did not know
Earned sixty dollars not much dough
Tried to never sing the blues
Even spit shined boots and shoes
Some skipped the draft went on the lam
I enlisted and went to Viet Nam
The year I spent the one of Tet
Of that Asian war I am a vet
My country called I answered it
For four short years I did not quit
I learned so well to handle strife
Not much else hard for all my life
Do not regret a thing at all
If young again would heed the call
Would grow up quick as I did then
Yes, I would do it all again
There have been times in our land
When our nation has had to take a stand.
It first began at Bunker's Hill
Where so many men were then killed.
All through that war with the British King
Men here in America were fighting and dying.
They were the first "Veterans" of the US,
When duty calls, there was always a surplus.
Always men of courage it takes it seems
Like those with Jackson at New Orleans.
There were "Veterans" who fought both South and North
When the country was split, her sons poured forth.
Healing those wounds would take some time
But in the end it came in line.
Of course no one remembers the row with Spain
Where America sent her men once again.
The "War to End All Wars" was more than a saying
As loved ones and sweethearts were left home praying.
Oh, Chateau Thierry, the Argonne, Belleau Wood and more
Are now in our history as battles of that war.
Then came the biggest war of all
When the world went crazy in '39's Fall.
Our "Veterans" were there too,
In Africa, Europe, and the Katmandu.
From Casablanca and Casserein on Africa's shore,
To Sicily, Anzio, Normandy, and the Bastogne's of that war.
The Pacific saw its share of death and hell
From the first bombs at Pearl Harbor to Gaudalcanal.
Many "Veterans" died at Iwo Jima, Saipan, Okinawa too,
They shed their blood for me and you.
After the end, we thought we might have some order,
Until the Communists in Korea crossed the border.
The Vietnam era was one of upheaval and race,
Some "Veterans" coming home even received a spit in the face.
For their part the "Veterans" were not to blame,
And for our country, it was a time of shame.
Dessert Storm and Dessert Shield put them in the MidEast
Where terror reigns with sate for a feast.
Yet, the soldier, sailor, or airman know,
If his country calls, he must go.
They follow the traditions of other "Veterans" you see,
They put their lives on the line for both you and me.
To the ones who have worn our country's uniform I say
"Thank You, Veteran", we should honor you with more than one day!