Tell Me Why?

I'm rarely angry, but this stirs it up to bubbling point

For those who volunteer to serve,

who willingly take up the cause

to keep us safe so you and I

can live in freedom, surely they

deserve applause and deep respect?

I can not help but question why

a veteran should meet his end,

alone and homeless, found on ground,

undignified, half covered by

rough shrubbery and undergrowth.

This island's wealth is mountain high,

gives generously to foreign aid

and some are paid excessively.

How can it be a man like Paul

who could have sacrificed his all.

is treated worse than fly tipped waste?

I do not hesitate to tell,

this pains me, leaves a sour taste.

What circumstances led to this?

His roofless death bed did not serve

him, in the manner he served us.

A callous, heartless passing place.

A sad disgrace our nation's shame.

Yet whom I ask will own the blame

and house our homeless veterans?

Reviews

[Neville]

I am with you all the way Chris .. it is, indeed, a crying shame & what makes it worse is that we are not alone .. It seems to be a so called civilised & compassionate first world countries almost customary way of responding to those who have by and large served their country during times of conflict, in effect disgracefully ........... Neville

[Chris Shaw]

Pleased you share my thoughts here Neville. The way we treat our vets is often pathetic. Left on the streets to die and without access to mental health facilities too. You know, they give their all and this is how they are repaid. I can't go past an anniversary on Facebook without paying my respects. Maybe because my Dad was in the army, I have the highest regard for those who sign up to protect us and the country I love. Big thank you for letting this old poem breathe again.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Me too on this one...second the emotion..even back in the Viet Nam days....yes, most of us were against the war...but those who mistreated the veterans when they came back---that was an awful show of disrespect to those who simply were doing their patriotic duty---there was no choice with the draft.
yes, a sour taste in my mouth too....this poem is so expressive of the disgrace...
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Jacob for your viewpoint. Much appreciated

Chris

[Island Hippy]

I absolutely agree! We are not much better in the US. Governments don’t hesitate to call upon them but fail miserably in their duty of care upon their return.

Mahalo for your spirited offering for, highlighting a very important issue.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for your interest in both reading and responding.

Chris

[Relic]

The government did not plan ahead for their return. They didn't think about the consequences that would occur due to combat. It's easy to send them off, make promises or give them encouragement through flattery in order to get the job done. But once they're back, the homeless vets are on their own. People planning on serving their country might want to take heed and learn from this tragedy, but most won't.

[Chris Shaw]

I think they are having a hard time recruiting in the UK at the moment. Hardly surprising when there is no confidence in how vets will be looked after on their return. Thank you Relic, for your response.

[Jaskaran Singh Sethi]

This issue had to be raised,This issue had to raised many veterans are rendered homeless

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for your visit and hello. Your comments warmly received.

Chris

[sette]

it is one poignant poem wherein there is the right of a person to vent not because of pressure from others but because the person cares so thanks for this

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks sette. I do not like injustice and where I see it, I can't help myself.

Chris

[sette]

and that is what is admirable in you

[Lorry]

Sadly, this is not news to many these days, after hearing so many stories of how we forgot our heroes. Its not much to ask, after doing what they have done for us, yet the problem seems to have slipped through the cracks, forgotten.
Well done for highlighting our shame at forgetting those, who havent got the luxury of forgetting.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Lorry. I wrote this a couple of years ago when it happened. I wrote it as a tribute to Paul, to say that whilst he had been forgotten by his government, others had not forgotten his service or the way he had been treated. At last, I think something is being done. I was listening to a parliamentary debate the other day which gave me some hope. Thank you Lorry for your response. Hope all is ok with you.

Chris

[Lorry]

About time. They could hardly do less.

[Mrudula Rani]

Social services are not applied properly, taxpayers' money misused (in every country) in this matter. Before sending the service men and women off to fighting, the government should give them a written guarantee that they will be looked after well once they return home from battlefields. An Important issue you have done justice, Chris. - Mrudula

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Mrudula for your considered response to a serious issue. Something which could seemingly be fixed relatively easily by government.

Chris

[Mrudula Rani]

Your poem express powerfully the the neglect of war veterans, Chris. it touched my heart. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[Chris Shaw]

You are very welcome my friend

[phill..m]

Great poem. 100% agree, the system we live in does not care. The people who run the system
just needs to deflect attention so that the population blame something else and not them.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for reading. Your response is appreciated.

Chris