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Memorial Day Parade
The wounded vet marched in the town's
Memorial Day Parade
With feelings of pride along with the sense
Of having been betrayed.
He'd fought in nightmarish skirmishes
In a hellish no man's land,
Pledging allegiance to a country whose war
He didn't understand.
Though proud he was to have served his country,
He couldn't always claim
To be proud of his country at times,
Which was a rotten shame.
When signing up he knew he might
Have to pay a price--
But not the feeling of abandonment
For his sacrifice.
In some ways he felt lucky, for he'd
Returned with his duffel bag--
Unlike some of his friends who had
Come home wrapped in a flag.
The crowds cheered, the bands played,
The ceremony was formal.
Afterwards, the crowds would go home;
Their lives would go back to normal.
Normal for him was a daily struggle,
Therapy, medication,
Recurring dreams, unemployment,
Continuous frustration.
"No more empty promises;
No more tales or lies,"
He muttered softly as "Taps" was played
And tears streamed from his eyes.
(5-30-16)
Memorial Day Parade
With feelings of pride along with the sense
Of having been betrayed.
He'd fought in nightmarish skirmishes
In a hellish no man's land,
Pledging allegiance to a country whose war
He didn't understand.
Though proud he was to have served his country,
He couldn't always claim
To be proud of his country at times,
Which was a rotten shame.
When signing up he knew he might
Have to pay a price--
But not the feeling of abandonment
For his sacrifice.
In some ways he felt lucky, for he'd
Returned with his duffel bag--
Unlike some of his friends who had
Come home wrapped in a flag.
The crowds cheered, the bands played,
The ceremony was formal.
Afterwards, the crowds would go home;
Their lives would go back to normal.
Normal for him was a daily struggle,
Therapy, medication,
Recurring dreams, unemployment,
Continuous frustration.
"No more empty promises;
No more tales or lies,"
He muttered softly as "Taps" was played
And tears streamed from his eyes.
(5-30-16)
