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.

[J. F. Charleston]

I like this. Not the average poem. It tells a story of a soldier in the Vietnam. Surprisingling one Canadian soldier. Really I never knew that Canada was in that war.

[Coyote Poetry]

He lived in Detroit. He was born and raised in Canada. He came to the USA for opportunities. Easy way to get papers is to join the military. He fought for the USA.

[Aianarie (INACTIVE)]

Aww. This was quite sad and I felt the words deep in my heart. You are a gifted poet when it comes to expressing emotions. Excellent job.

[Heromen Selena]

Wonderful. I felt every emotion that is shown through the poem though I have not experienced them myself. Sadness, lost valor, slowly trudging along with the scars. Very good. Keep it up!

[Tate Morgan]

Scars can last a long time and then come back to haunt a person.Life is cruel some times

[Beautiful Brat]

Full of emotion and very realistic! Great job :]

[∠( ᐛ 」..]

I loved it! This poem is so sad and so beautiful. The ending was so emotional and it was such a sad ending "You did not leave me my friend" it really hit the spot in my heart. Thanks a billion for sharing this lovable and sad poem.
100/100

[Cole Hayley]

i love it! like all of your pieces of course. Brillant once again friend

[That_Girl]

This is beautiful... I LOVE it. So well done. There are a few grammatical errors throughout but nothing that can't be easily fixed. Very nice. This pulled emotions from me that most poems don't.

[Persephone]

A very moving piece. War can change so many people and there is so much pain. I liked the line "some wars outlast the battles." Very true