(3) Ode To An Old Soldier

He sits all alone, feeling forgotten
Amongst the rubbish in the alley
No one heeds him, no one cares
Another victim that is homeless

If only someone listened to his story
Of how he became a victim of the bottle
So many years passing of living this way
A shrunken shadow of the man he once was

Long ago he fought in the war, fighting proud
Battling for his country, believing in truth
The war was won and the country was safe
But he carried battle scars within his mind

Time has passed and he is one more forgotten hero
Once a soldier with honour, now a broken man
He came home from a war, with nowhere to go
Now fighting another war, one he can never win



copyright Chris Smith 2011

Reviews

[Peter Joseph Swanson]

Very very moving!

[fargone]

excellent poem chris. not only is he a forgotten hero, he is a forgotten casualty too. a story which mirrors truth so well.

[Jūdan FyreHeart]

The transition from solider back to civi is very difficult to make yet most people just don't give a damn. Far to wrapped up in their own pathetic little world. Great write =D

[BeccaBelieved-]

Relateable to me as I have known many soldiers in my life and I know many have no home though they could gave died for their country, yet no one would blink an eye to them now. I love it!!