by lliam » Mon May 05, 2003 8:59 am
A Simple Soldier.<BR>====================<P>He was getting old and paunchy <BR>And his hair was falling fast, <BR>And he sat around the Legion, <BR>Telling stories of the past. <P>Of a war that he once fought in <BR>And the deeds that he had done, <BR>In his exploits with his buddies;<BR>hey were heroes, every one.<BR> <BR>And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors <BR>His tales became a joke, <BR>All his buddies listened quietly <BR>For they knew where of he spoke.<BR> <BR>But we'll hear his tales no longer, <BR>For ol' Bob has passed away, <BR>And the world's a little poorer <BR>For a Soldier died today.<BR> <BR>He won't be mourned by many, <BR>Just his children and his wife. <BR>For he lived an ordinary, <BR>Very quiet sort of life.<BR> <BR>He held a job and raised a family, <BR>Going quietly on his way; <BR>And the world won't note his passing, <BR>'Tho a Soldier died today.<BR> <BR>When politicians leave this earth, <BR>Their bodies lie in state, <BR>While thousands note their passing, <BR>And proclaim that they were great.<BR> <BR>Papers tell of their life stories <BR>From the time that they were young <BR>But the passing of a Soldier <BR>Goes unnoticed, and unsung.<BR> <BR>Is the greatest contribution <BR>To the welfare of our land, <BR>Some jerk who breaks his promise <BR>And cons his fellow man?<BR> <BR>Or the ordinary fellow <BR>Who in times of war and strife, <BR>Goes off to serve his country <BR>And offers up his life?<BR> <BR>The politician's stipend <BR>And the style in which he lives, <BR>Are often disproportionate, <BR>To the service that he gives.<BR> <BR>While the ordinary Soldier, <BR>Who offered up his all, <BR>Is paid off with a medal <BR>And perhaps a pension, small.<BR> <BR>It's so easy to forget them, <BR>For it is so many times <BR>That our Bobs and Jims and Johnny's, <BR>Went to battle, but we know,<BR> <BR>It is not the politicians <BR>With their compromise and ploys, <BR>Who won for us the freedom <BR>That our country now enjoys.<BR> <BR>Should you find yourself in danger, <BR>With your enemies at hand, <BR>Would you really want some cop-out, <BR>With his ever waffling stand?<BR> <BR>Or would you want a Soldier-- <BR>His home, his country, his kin, <BR>Just a common Soldier, <BR>Who would fight until the end.<BR> <BR>He was just a common Soldier, <BR>And his ranks are growing thin, <BR>But his presence should remind us <BR>We may need his like again.<BR> <BR>For when countries are in conflict, <BR>We find the Soldier's part <BR>Is to clean up all the troubles <BR>That the politicians start.<BR> <BR>If we cannot do him honor <BR>While he's here to hear the praise, <BR>Then at least let's give him homage <BR>At the ending of his days.<BR> <BR>Perhaps just a simple headline <BR>In the paper that might say:<P>"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, <BR>A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."<BR> <P>Pass On The Patriotism! <BR>YOU can make a difference.
Lliam.
I spent 90% of my money on women and drink. The rest I wasted - George Best