THE OLD MAN

In thanks of service. A little tribute to those who have served but are not forgotten

The old man stood before the crowd,

He was frail and weak.

He was so scared to be standing there,

That he could barely speak.

 

They invited him to come and talk,

And even through the fear,

He wanted to tell about the life,

And things that he held dear.

 

He served his country long ago,

In wars across the sea,

 And even though the years had passed,

Nightmares wouldn't let him be.

 

Many that he considered friends,

Still lay on foreign lands.

He told about watching as they fell,

And holding them in his hands.

 

He told the crowd about his pain,

From the very start,

About the suffering he had seen,

That still held hold of his heart.

 

When his story came to an end,

He limped as he sat down,

The tears were seen throughout  the room,

A dry eye could not be found.

 

Reviews

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

All give some, and some give all. My heart breaks for those who have witnessed the fall of those who gave all, who are haunted by what they've seen. I work with a veteran who spent ten years in the Navy Seals. He is haunted, the ghosts of what he has seen shadow his eyes. Our freedom should never be taken for granted. Thank you for this poem.

[MelissaAndres]

Very touching poem, Lasergraph. My son served in the Air Force for six years and, although he never saw some of the things the older generation did during their service, he has still told some powerful stories. I admire anyone and everyone who has served our country. It's a difficult, difficult job!

[Lasergraph]

I do always thank those who serve and my thanks to your son

[MelissaAndres]

Thank you, Lasergraph. I will pass it on! :)

[Abbadon]

This is a wonderful poem, my father is a veteran, and i myself although not a man of military service, have lost friends to war this poem strikes my heart a little bit, well, a lot. it takes me back to when i saw my friends going off to war, to see them go with a prideful stride, and not even 2 years-3 years later, i listened to the salute and firing of rifles at their funeral, thank you for this poem, i am glad people stil appreciate our late, and current veterans.