THESE OLD EYES HAVE SEEN MANY THINGS AND PLACES

On July 31, 2017 I'll turn sixty nine years old
And in all of the time I've spent here on earth
These old eyes have seen many things and places

A carefree lifestyle of growing up in the 1950's
Without threats many kids face in today's world
Laughing and playing with our friends until dark

Then came the 1960's and all the changes started
Civil disobedience and the devil may care attitudes
There were many young people that were doing drugs

Our nation had become divided once more in our history
On the one side the ones who believed in our country
On the other those who had wanted to change our nation

It seemed that you were either a pot smoking hippie
Or you still believed in law and order for our nation
I stood on that side of tradition, honor and country

I volunteered to fight communism and the dictatorships
To help those who desired freedom and peace in life
At times that required defending freedom at any cost

I have always considered myself to be a loyal patriot
I willingly answered the call to defend liberty for all
Throughout all these years I have stood tall and proud

Proud I had fought defending freedom when it was needed
Many citizens enjoy their rights and their own freedom
But instead of being thankful they had called us murders

I have seen many people die in both war and peacetime
Many have suffered as I from the effects of defoliants
Used while we were in war to kill off the jungle plants

In the last 49 years many have died from their exposure
Medical issues from chemicals sprayed compounds yearly
If you're not dead from it yet you are pretty damn lucky

I have seen this nation slowly start to fall from grace
Too many self serving politicians think of self first
They only serve in politics to line their own pockets

Now as more veterans are returning home from overseas
They too are running for public office to serve us all
Not for greed, but with a sense of integrity and honor



© Terry Sasek - Alwaysawarrior - all rights reserved.
  

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