The Vet

I thought of this wondering what a vet goes through. Nowadays they are given no respect for what they have given. And are given little help when they ask for it. Is that right.

The old vet,

walked with pride,
served this country,
a long time by.

Served this country,
for many years,
gave a leg,
with many tears.
 

Gave him a new one,
and sent him on his way,
with no place to live,
no way to stay.

But every Veteran’s Day,
he walked in the Veteran’s parade,
to show his faith,
for the American way.

But once in a while,
someone would spit,
at his smile,
and called him a traitor that day.

But he would wipe his face,
and walk away,
never thinking of it,
again that day.

For he had pride,
and served with distinction,
for his country,
is not pure fiction.

Not a lie to despise,
a place to hide,
all the cover ups,
that live inside.

For he is the veteran,
who lives his life,
one day at a time,
with no strife.

But somewhere,
in the back of his mind,
some doubt lived,
to drag him down.

A seed of a thought,
to be seen,
someone being sarcastic,
and to be mean.

But for a moment,
it rose to the surface,
then buried away,
never to be seen again this day.

Until another parade comes,
for him to walk his way,
to show his worth,
and none of his pain.

For his life he led,
as a patriot true,
expecting no due,
for he was an American through and true.