Lost

A day begins

A day ends

The years have fallen

As autumn leaves,

The old Vet sits

Wi’ vacant eyes

He’s been here

Over forty years

Only God knows

What he sees,

Giving forth an

Anguished moan

Whispered intangible words

Screams and a pitiful groan

Tis’ all that is ever heard,

From this man who went

To war

And bravely held his own

All these years he’s ne’er

Once realized he is home,

All his needs are done for him

E’en his bath and a shave

The nurses spoon feed his meals

To him

Yet he remains the same,

What his thoughts are of

No one can tell

One looks at his stoic face

And knows he is still in hell,

The man will ne’er have lived

His life

Ne’er watched children grow

e’er to hold a wife

Much less to e’er know,

This veteran once

So proud and brave

Has not one by his side

He’ll be alone

Until the day

He bows his head and dies.

by  Larry Gordon

April 2006