You did not leave me my friend.

Some scars cannot heal. We learn to live with them.

                  
                                   You did not leave me my friend.

Old man sat alone.
Whiskey and gin is his friend tonight.
The V.A hospital pain killers don't help.
His fate cannot be opposed.
Old war wounds given without notice is slowly killing his body.

The valor of war is broken now.
The man sees only blood and death.
He left for Vietnam.
A prophet to save a broken people.

He forfeit his dreams to swim in s**t and blood.
He raised his glass to friends left in the dirt of a lost war.
He wished he had told his friends.
Thank you for watching my back.
 He whispered "I will be joining you soon."

He sits in lonely places now.
Waiting for the slow death to finish him off.
In the blood of courage he left home in 1963.
Volunteered for war the USA said would save the world.

I sat with my friend.
I ordered a double of Jack and a pint of cold beer.
I looked at my friend. Once a 220 pound man with strength
and hope. Now barely, a 100 pound man and can barely walk.
 
He looked at me. He gave me a big Canadian smile and told me.
"You did not leave me my friend."

I hugged my old friend. I met him a few years back. Trying to drink
myself to death. He told me. "You don't know nothing. You have a chance.
Cancer ain't killing you. Wake up."

I watched him drink the Jack Daniels. He told me.
"Jack Daniels hadn't let me down yet. Pain ain't too bad. Doctors told me
soon I will be done."

My friend loved his Toronto Maple leafs. We watched many games.
I go to the downtown tavern and watch hockey alone now.
My friend died on a cold Winter day and found peace.
I hope his brothers are waiting for a fellow Soldier.

Some wars outlast the battles.
Some sickness eats at the body and soul.
My friend never complained about the pain.
He told me if he had one wish.
Would be to take the s**t of war out of his head.

I drink the Jack Daniel and drink my cold Canadian beer.
I can hear my friend.
"You did not leave me my friend".

                                Coyote
                           July 2012

Author's Note

War can be a slow killer. It is sad to watch people died. Funny part. Good people can lead us to a better place after they have been in hell.

Reviews

[Kaya]

This is so poignant, as is a lot of your work. It's a heartbreaking thing to watch, even for someone with no experience of what they're going through. I do love the way your poems, even when they break my heart, seem to offer a sense of hope. Thank you.

[KAREN]

Beautifully written, but so true, war is a killer of many! Your words are written with so much deep truth!

[Mark]

So many friends lost their lives in war, so many more came back so changed they were different people.

So sad to think of the men who gave so much for this country, for this government, and receive next to nothing in return. We praise our heros, but we don't take care of them and that is a shame our country will not own up to.

Your words always touch me my friend. Another great story.

All I can say for this poem is wow. It was a little slow in the beging but it picked up and left it at a good end.

[Eric Cox]

So sad. A very good man to go to war for America, tragic what happened to him. I like the line: you did not leave me my friend. An excellent job on this tale.

[Kes]

This is so sad and so beautiful.
The penultimate stanza stuck my heart in my throat.
Thanks for sharing. :)
K

[Norma M Sutton]

Thank you for sharing this. My father was a veteran of WWII. He died from "carcinoma of unknown origin" in 1984. I saw him many times sitting with his dog tags on. I know he was thinking of those who didn't come home.

[melissa's heart]

I agree with you, this poem reminds me of my neighbor who is a war hero and got agent orange in the same war you write about. He can barely walk, but loves this country. I help take care of him, for it is the least that I can do after all he did for this country. Love this poem.

[Geraldine]

Packed with emotion, I really could feel it. Inspiring, as it touches me. Those kind of people are really not meant to be left alone. What a great story you have here. A very beautifully written piece. :))

[Ruth]

Oh my!
This made me tearful, I know I am vehemently against war but it really does make you think about the effect of such abhorent atrocities that when witnessed could destroy the mind afterwards!
Wow, what a piece!
xoxo

[Lily Mae]

When you write of these experiences it reminds me of someone I know here.. I see all that you write about in his blank stare.. I feel the pain in his want to always reach out to do something good to take the place of what he feels is his sin.. Such a dark place inside where this war still lives and breathes.. and you always pen is with such depth and heart my friend..xo