[Gimpy]

My Brother, my friend Frank on his birthday.

We all miss you Brother.


'A VIETNAM VETERAN'

I watched him limp as he walked my way;
There was sadness in his eyes.
His clothes were ragged and wrinkled
And time seemed to have passed him by.

He seemed like he didn't belong here,
And yet, he had been a part
Of a time when the turmoil around us
Tugged violently at all of our hearts.

I tried to offer some comfort,
But he gave me a half-hearted grin.
He said, "No matter how hard I try,
I just can't seem to fit in."

He looked much older than his 52 years;
I thought back to a time long ago,
When he was a handsome young soldier.
Oh God! What if we'd only known.

If we had known of the outcome
Would things be different today?
Would we have turned our backs on the world
Or still sent our young men away?

This man said I shouldn't be worried,
And he hoped that he wouldn't offend,
But if he had it to do all over,
He'd do it all over again.

He'd be willing, again, to shoulder a gun
And put his fears and his hurt aside.
After all, he was defending his country.
His eyes glowed with the soldier's true pride.

The mental scars were more painful
When the soldiers came home from the war.
Our country considered them outcasts,
And cast them aside all the more.

It seems like it was just yesterday
When I spoke with this man who'd been so brave.
Now with tears mixed with pride and yet sadness,
I kneel praying at my brother's grave.

***********

See you on the 'other'side' my old friend.