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.

[Renny]

This am sure will bring back memories of lost friends not neccesarily dead ones but those who hardship and other factors tore their friendship with us. Good write Bro

[Mark]

Thanks Coyote. parts of it remind me of my own friends

[Samantha Lynn]

the only thing that got to me was this stanza...

"he told me if he had one wish.
Would be to take the shirt of war out of his head." idk, I think it's just the punctuation and little stuffs. I would change it to this maybe?

"He told me (that) if he had one wish (no period)
(It/That/Then it) would be to take the s**t of war out of his head."

also the second line doesn't really make me feel like he regrets ever doing it or anything. I get no feeling from that line. Maybe add more feeling to it. I have some thoughts if you need help but I dont' want to change you poem. its you work lol
i still loved it thought. lots ! lol

this is the reason I hate all war. in the end it helps no one. it just leave people to die of old age with these thoughts in their head during it all.

[Alistair (Ali)]

Another very thoughtful piece and one in which you have given your friend immortality,...the written words outlast us all.
Thank you
Ali

[meltingtuba]

Thank you for your poem

[Sasha]

Great poem, very emotional.

[...]

This is so full of heart and endurance and sadness and giving. What a beautiful work of art you shared here :) It touched me dearly...thank you :)

[Aditi Mahajan]

This one is unique!

[Star Wolf]

A very powerful and compelling poem. Our emotions can cause us great harm when they linger too long on the negative side. An awesome poem.

[Tina Kline]

Those who have been to hell and back again are the best leaders to help lead others out. They've learned the way. Excellent poem.