He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion
Telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes every one.
And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew whereof he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For old Bob has passed away.
And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.
He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.
When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state.
While thousands note their passing
And proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young,
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed and unsung.
Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Someone who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow Man?
Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?
The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate
To the service that he gives.
While the ordinary Soldier
Who offered up his all
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.
It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger
With your enemies at hand,
Would you rally want some cop-out
With his ever waffling stand?
Or would you want a Soldier-
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end?
He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We many need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict
We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING.
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."
That's my two cents. What's yours?
The Old Curmudgeon
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