it’s a dividend for peace

that comes from war

with more wounded surviving

than ever before

that the progress that

combat medicine makes

transmits to civilian life 

for all the peoples' sakes

from suffering 

and strife  

comes more chance

of the saving of life

while ungrateful government

just routinely hides

the ever growing number of 

veteran suicides

or that many veterans live

homeless on the streets

rejected and ignored 

after their patriotic feats.

such an irony that risking 

all in combat and strife

 directly contributes to

the saving of another’s life.

only the bereaved

ever seem to care

for the predicament of

those who dared to dare

once a year we remember

those who didn’t survive

with little care shown

 for those damaged but alive