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Ken Hayden Poem
Just a vet'ran - Cobwebs turning into dust
He's a teen out of the 60's - now wrinkled on his brow.
Did not need to be drafted -- woulda' signed up anyhow
'Cause He grew up with Kennedy and this county is his pride.
When John was killed in 63, his whole classroom cried.
Did Oswald have inside help? He ponders who and why.
Thought back when a young soldier it was a small sacrifice
for Viet Nam to live free - 'twas worth the threat to life.
As he aged into a man and those around him died,
what kept him going was his world and he would be their prize.
back home there was no parade and few could see his side.
He's just a vet'ran and there's not much he can do
He has buried some old mem'ries 'cause he's tired of feelin' blue
Just a vet'ran. Now Politicians he don't trust
and the plaque and the ribbons are just cobwebs turning into dust.
Once little sleep for nightmares that played over and over
if one whispered, "incoming", he'd awake and dive for cover.
Most dreams have slowly faded, ----- thanks to the hands of time
yet he still thinks of his buddies and the ways thay had to die.
now he's hurtin' from old war wounds and hasn't worked for some time.
He's a vet'ran that's been swallowing his pride.
Never thought he'd need a handout, now that cannot be denied.
Just a vet'ran and the VA he must use
as a means for survival - there are few ways left for him to choose.
He watched the tube in the 90s of Iraq's "Desert Storm",
with its threats of poison gas and stench of burning oil
And he's hoping for those soldiers, it would not be like before.
But as it was with Viet Nam, some got sick and died
and like it was with Agent Orange - the war's causes were denied.
Now, almost half a century since he had to do his tour
he's Recalling fiery suicides that caused this Afghan war.
Pious men of influence want power and much more.
had peers with conscience stood up to them - there'd be less cause for war.
He blames extreme religion promoting hatred for all the horror.
He's just a vet'ran and there's not much he can do
He has buried some old mem'ries 'cause he's tired of feelin' blue
Just a vet'ran. Some pious people he lost his trust
and the plaque and the ribbons are just cobwebs turning into dust.
Yes, the mem'ries are fading - now they're cobwebs turning into dust.
Copyright © Ken Hayden | Year Posted 2015
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