Just a Simple
Soldier
He was getting old
and paunchy
and his hair was
falling fast.
And he sat around
the Legion,
telling stories of
the past.
Of a war he had fought
in
and the deeds that
he had done.
In his exploits with
his buddies;
they were heroes,
everyone.
And 'tho sometimes,
to his neighbors,
his tales became
a joke,
all his buddies listened,
for they knew whereof
he spoke.
But we'll hear his
tales no longer,
for ol'Tom has passed
away,
and the world's a
little poorer,
for a Soldier died
today.
No, he won't be mourned
by many,
just his children
and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
very quiet sort of
life.
He held a job and
raised a family,
quietly going on
his way;
and the world won't
note his passing;
'tho a Soldier died
today.
When politicians
leave this world,
their bodies lie
in state,
while thousands note
their passing,
and proclaim that
they were great.
Papers tell of their
life stories,
from the time that
they were young,
but the passing of
a soldier,
goes unnoticed, and
unsung.
Is the greatest contribution,
to the welfare of
our land,
some jerk that breaks
his promise
and cons his fellow
man?
Or the ordinary fellow,
who in times of war
and strife,
goes off to serve
his Country
and offers up his
life?
The politician's
stipend,
and the style in
which he lives,
are sometimes disproportionate,
to the service he
gives.
While the ordinary
soldier,
who offered up his
all,
is paid off with
a medal
and perhaps a pension,
small.
It's so easy to forget
them,
for it is so long
ago,
that our Toms and
Jims and Johnnys,
went to battle, but
we know.
It was not the politicians,
with their compromise
and ploys,
who won for us our
freedom,
that our Country
now enjoys.
Should you find yourself
in danger,
with your enemies
at hand,
would you really
want some cop-out,
with his ever waffling
stand?
Or would you want
a Soldier,
and his ranks are
growing thin,
but his presence
should remind us,
we may need his like
again.
For when countries
are in conflict,
then we find the
Soldier's part,
is to clean up all
the troubles,
that the politicians
start.
If we cannot do him
honor,
while he's here to
hear the praise,
then at least let's
give him homage,
at the ending of
his days.
Perhaps just a headline,
in the paper that
might say:
OUR
COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, FOR A SOLDIER DIED TODAY
-- Author Unknown --
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