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.

[lee von cleef]

Coyote, it is good to wake up.I like the layers, folding the body away ,taking it apart from some ones soul,letting the body become something, rather then someone.Then letting their separated soul breathe into our own "You did not leave me my friend" Good journey.

[Maya Storm]

I always try to pick out a line from a piece that I liked but this one I loved:
"He forfeit his dreams to swim in s**t and blood." So graphic, and so meaningful.

As usual you painted a clear picture with your imagery. You allowed me to see and feel things that I otherwise would not understand. Thanks/

[Patricia B. Hepler]

Wrenching emotion. I could see, feel and smell each character as I read this.
I like your note as well..."Good people can lead us to a better place after they have been in hell." How true.

[Falling Leaf.]

This is superb. It wrenched at my heart, thinking about all of my grandparents and uncles and aunts who were in the war. One thing: you need to capitalize "wake" in in the seventh stanza. Other than that, exquisitely done, Coyote.

[Helen Crutchett]

A strong, sad and honest poem. You have described the absolute hell of war, that no person should EVER have to endure. My heart aches for those who have been in the thick of sensless slaughtering and leaving them shattered and trying to build some semblance of a life again..... until death's finality appears. Good work Coyote, thank you for sharing this with us.

P.S small typo....I think you mean fellow, instead of follow soldier.

[Cascara (aka Sprint Goe..]

i love how you used the title of this poem so many times in this poem at the right places...true friends will always be a part of us and our lives

[dark light]

reading this poem makes me cry; excellent sad story

[.]

I love this. Such a heart wrenching story. I agree that war is a horrible monster, and the destruction it leaves behind is tremendous. This is a great poem for a person trying to reinvent their own life, by peering from someone else's hell. Great job.

[Pax]

sad and heartwarming. Your a great friend through good times and bad.
and through that you have been bless with good ones also..

Its really a good story to remember by..
well done again.