One tin soldier walked away.

I worry for my world. The real treasure of a life. Is knowing love.

One tin soldier walked away.

 I had a friend in the Army.

He sat alone and he talked to no-one and

he was a large black man of twenty-one.

I made him befriend me.

I sat for weeks at breakfast and lunch with him.

One day, he asked me.

What the f**k do you want?

I told him. I see heavy sadness and 

if you need someone to talk to.

Please talk to me.

I told him I re-joined the Army because of two brothers committing suicide.

I understand sadness, I understand being pissed-off.

He told me. There were thousands dead bodies.

Me and my unit cleaned-up Death valley.

Some were screaming and we couldn't help them, that were in pieces.

The leaders told us, we won and we must celebrate.

I body-bags so many and I remember every face.

I couldn't celebrate the murder of so many men.

I was send here to be healed.

I told him my name is Johnnie and I have a truck on the base.

You and me will wander away from the base this weekend.

You name the place, you need to go.

He gave me his hand and he told me my name is Bobbie.

Virginia born. And I need the sea.

We found the Atlantic and I made him drink the Black Velvet whiskey.

He told me. I have a great mama and three sisters.

They worry for me.

We drank and drank.

We told the Army to f**k off, we told the world to f**k off.

He turned to me and he asked me.

What are you f*****g with me?

He stood-up and he tossed off his shoes.

He tossed his wallet to the sand and he ran into the Winter Atlantic.

I ran to him and I swear. Someone was standing with him.

I grasps him in my arms and he turned to me.

Johnnie, I am okay.

I won't kill no-more, I won't fight no-more.

I will leave the Army.

A month later, at the bus station.

I stood with him and he was smiling.

He told me, my mama is waiting for me in Virginia.

My sisters wanted to come and get me.

I told him, I am okay and I would see them soon.

Thank you Johnnie for befriending me.

I was one-step from suicide when you sat with me and you wouldn't allow me to die.

My mama will take care of me and my sister will keep me strong.

I reached my hand to him and he reached his arms around me.

Gave me a bear hug and he told me.

If you need a friend. Please come to my home in Northern Virginia.

I watched him load the bus and I waved goodbye.

I wrote to my journal.

"They told the tin soldier, he have won.

He stood in center of 20,000 dead men and he asked God.

Who won? Brothers, sons and fathers laid dead around him.

The tin soldier cried for men, who cannot cry no-more.

The tin soldier body-bags men and he prayed for each one.

Now the tin soldier is walking away and he saw no winner.

Just blood on his hands, that he can't clean-off his hands.

Now the tin soldier walked away. He hope one day.

He can forgot war and the blood red hands will be clean again."

Coyote

Author's Note

Thank you for reading.

Reviews

[W. Barrett Munn]

Tin soldiers and Nixon coming, we're finally on our own,
this summer I hear the drumming, four dead in Ohio.

Just as you have never been able to shake the effects of your war, I have never been able to shake the effects of the war fought here at home in those summer months.

Thanks for your wonderful words, John,

Winston

[Coyote Poetry]

Same war Winston. The draft took the men and they had limited choose. The people seeking the end of war. Were soldiers for peace. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[Sami Khalil]

I share all your sentiments you shared with us in this amazing poem type story. You are so frank and your voice is loud and clear. May God bless you for raising the awareness about those wicked politicians and their usages of innocent men to fight unjust and control wars.

[Coyote Poetry]

I wish they would listen Sami. Thank you for reading and the comment my friend.

[Sami Khalil]

Yes siiiirrrrr. You are welcome sir Coyote

[~Sarah~ Idríel T..]

The useless war there's no one to win. All the lives only to die and why? There's no need to fight. Reading this made me deeply sad.

I hope he made a good life.

Thank you for sharing it, John.

[Coyote Poetry]

Me too. In 1992. No cell phones yet. Thank you dear Sarah for reading and the comment.

[Gee]

This easily my favourite write of yours my friend. Touches on a subject seen as taboo by many and at the same time highlights your kind, caring, loving soul.
Hope you are well my friend

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you my friend. Suicide is a big problem today. People are giving-up too easily. I appreciate the comment.

[Gee]

My pleasure

[Dave Brown]

It is a sorry situation when one sick mind can create such a huge amount of misery

[Coyote Poetry]

Sick minds are create. Death didn't bother me. I was raised in Detroit. I saw dead bodies as a young kid. War is different for every man. My step-fathers walked away from WW2. He could put away the memories of war. My dad fought in the Korean war and the Vietnam. He couldn't and he drank himself to death. War teaches us nothing. Thank you for reading.

[Dennis Wolf]

War teaches us a few things, about our species.... But nothing good ever comes of it

[Patricia Wedel]

dearJohn... whoever made Decisions for War… has Blood on their hands.. and the Tin Soldiers Lose their Mind, except for a few that had someone to talk with … very much like You. Thank you John . gently, Pat

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree dear Pat. But the youth of our world pay for the greed of the rich. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[Soren]

I always loved that song. Real heroes save lives not take them. It is sad that we idealize the warrior not the peace maker. At this time of year we idealize the purchaser not the love for mankind that it was meant for. A poignant story of giving not taking.

[Coyote Poetry]

These three ladies, the O'Neil Sisters. I believe the best version. Those Irish gals can sing. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[Soren]

This reminds me of an old poem of mine "Blue and gray" it has some of the same intent.

[Simbles]

Thank you. We need you, as the ones we need the most, as one tribe, are the ones that hurt the most as self preservation is irrelevant if you wish to live not just to exist to survive but to appreciate this gift god left us the gift we call life.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Simbles. I am lucky. I have five grandchildren to keep me young. I appreciate the comment.

[AYVID N]

This is such a marvellous poem, filled with sorrow and grief over loved ones lost and the sadness and aimlessness of wars. No one wins a war dear Coyote. Everyone loses. The dead never return. I feel your pain.

[Coyote Poetry]

A true story dear Divya. Many soldiers commit suicide. The sin of war killed their hope. Thank you for reading and the comment. Young men and young women pay for the greed of the rich men.

[AYVID N]

So true my friend. I wish it was different.

[Neville]

I served in the Royal Air Force and also had friends who witnessed such carnage & saw how it affected them .. it is a crying shame when our hero's are only hero's when they are serving .. there needs to be far greater support for them when they eventually leave the military for whatever reason .. I imagine it was a relief to get this off your chest and out into the open Coyote .. much respect sir .. Neville

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Neville. The O'Neil sisters made me sad. Those pretty Irish gals. They can sing. When I went the first time in 1976. I was trained by the Vietnam Veterans. They trained us hard. They knew. A untrained soldier will die. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[Neville]

sadly my pleasure my friend ... Neville