Veteran

The man downs a whiskey

There is a saxophone that plays

His head is in his thoughts

He’s trapped there everyday

The piano taps a melody

He asks for a beer

The piano reminds him of war

He finds himself in Delaware

Where the air is crisp and no house is found

Just a bar in a meadow just down south

“Man,” he shouts, “play me a song.”

The saxophone continues to play

Life is awful, the man with the beer thinks

Life in war and war in life, he finds misery in notes

He finds misery in piano notes

The drums are added, they beat along

Bam bam bam, bum bum bum

Like the sound of a gun

The man orders a whiskey

Down and down the drinks go down his throat

Filling his mind, his putrid mind with thoughts

Of piano notes and drum melodies 

Fill the head with hate, he thinks, please fill my mind with hope

The man downs a whiskey

The saxophone stops playing

Silence in the Delaware bar, notes play no more 

Reviews

[W R Stowe]

This is truer than you can imagine.War is hell and affects each soldier differently.Viet Nam vets were most likely treated worse than any of them.We lost more lives in nam than in the two previous world wars bbut it wasn't a war but a police action I salute you for your insight I liked this

[Alex]

Thank you so much for your kind words!

[W R Stowe]

your quite welcome our vets need remembering

[Halbis Macklli]

Wow! Alex this poem uses a little scene to bring out so much which I must say was amazing. The way you have connected music and melody with war was quite unique and nice. I as a reader felt the pain in the character through the poem......it manages to touch a string in our heart very effectively. It also reminded me of another beautiful anti-war poem "A Small Pain in my Chest" by Michael Mack.
Thanks a lot for sharing this!..Keep it up!

[Alex]

Wow, thank you! You are too kind!

[Bare Trees]

This is powerful stuff. The scenes of war rarely leave the thoughts of a veteran. Little things trigger memories. Most dark and fearful. Great poem with a story line to it.

[Alex]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it, thank you! :)