We met by chance
In a very different place
This big genial Yank with
The generous smiling face.
One of those occasions
Nobody else could understand,
Two foreign bodies in
An unforgiving foreign land.
Initially working together
In a case of needs must
But ending in a relationship
Of reliance and trust.
Handshakes of respect
On the mission's ending day
As we each packed our kit
And went on our way.
He kept on reappearing
At various times of my life
Once with his son
Once with his latest wife,
Joyous reunions with
A not quite friend
Fond goodbyes at
Each visit's end.
Hectic occasions
That we enjoyed so much
Always the parting promise.
To never ever lose touch.
That unbroken bond
Of experiences shared
The unspoken knowledge
That each in his way cared.
Then a strained phone call
In the middle of the night
His voice's tone telling me
Things weren't going right.
A long silence followed until,
Down the buddy grapevine
From a friend of a friend of
That not quite friend of mine,
One campaign too many
Disappeared without trace
My big Yankee pal with
The big smiley face.
A past soldier of fortune
Time now for me to move on
The last link with that life
Being now finally gone.
