This is a simple, yet touching, poem
and is dedicated to all those
who so proudly served our nation.
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 that he had fought in
and the deeds that he had done.
In his exploits with his buddies
they were heroes, everyone.
And though sometimes, to 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' Bob has passed away
and the world's a little poorer
for a soldier died today.
He won't be mourned by many -
only his children and his wife,
for he just 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
though a soldier died today.
When politicians leave this earth,
their bodies lie in state
and 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 who 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 services that he gives.
While the ordinary soldier,
who has offered up his all
is paid off with a medal
and perhaps a pension, small.
It's so easy to forget them
for it was so long ago
that our Bob's and Jim's and Johnny's
went to battle, but we know
it was not the politicians,
with their compromise and ploys
who won for us the freedom
that our country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger
with your enemy at hand,
would you really want some cop-out
with his ever evasive stand. . .
or would you want a soldier
who has sworn he will defend
his home, his kin, his country
and would fight until the end?
He was just a common soldier
and his ranks are growing thin
but his presence should remind us
we may need his kind again
for when countries are in conflict
then we find the soldier's part
is to clean up all the troubles
that the politician's 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 simple headline
in the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING
FOR A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."
~ Author Unknown
