[BITList] A VETERANS POEM . . .

[FA]

    *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 once fought in
    And the deeds that he had done,
    In his exploits with his buddies;
    They were heroes, every one.*

    *And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
    His tales became a joke,
    All his buddies listened quietly
    For they knew where of he spoke.*

    *But we'll hear his tales no longer,
    For ol' Joe has passed away,
    And the world's a little poorer
    For a Veteran died today.*

    *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,
    Going quietly on his way;
    And the world won't note his passing,
    'Tho a Veteran died today.*

    *When politicians leave this earth,
    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 Veteran
    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 often disproportionate,
    To the service that he gives.*

    *While the ordinary Veteran,
    Who offered up his all,
    Is paid off with a medal
    And perhaps a pension, small.*

    *It is 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 enemies at hand,
    Would you really want some cop-out,
    With his ever-waffling stand?*

    *Or would you want a Veteran
    His home, his country, his kin,
    Just a common Veteran,
    Who would fight until the end.*

    *He was just a common Veteran,
    And his ranks are growing thin,
    But his presence should remind us
    We may need his likes again.*

    *For when countries are in conflict,
    We find the Veteran'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 simple headline
    In the paper that might say:*


    *"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
    A VETERAN DIED TODAY."*



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