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Joyce Johnson
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Member Rara Avis
since 2001-03-10
Posts 9912
Washington State

0 posted 2003-05-01 04:34 PM


The Old Soldier

I watched him shake his hand
And say a gruff goodbye
To his beloved grandson.
Old soldiers do not cry.
He fiercely rubbed his eyes
To stop unmanly tears,
As he recalled that other war
Of those now long past years.

If old men could go to war
He would gladly take the place
Of this young lad without a clue
Of what he is to face.
He recalled himself, the innocent,
Proudly going off to war;
To fight Hitler and his cronies,
Back in nineteen forty-four.

He arrived there just in time
In the battles to indulge;
In the bitterest of fighting
The big Battle of the Bulge.
Though he lost so many buddies,
He somehow stayed alive
Until the bullet with his name
In nineteen forty-five.

He felt his life-blood flowing,
All he could do was wait
For the pickup crew to come for him.
He hoped they weren't too late.
They came too late to save his leg.
Doctors said that it must go.
For him the war was over,
At least they told him so.

But he kept right on fighting
Every night in his dark dreams.
He could see the bullets flying
And could hear his comrades' screams.
He was glad to have his Mary,
Who held him in her arms
And told him it was over
As she soothed him with her charms.

He and Mary had two daughters.
They weren't blessed with a son.
Somehow he didn't mind because
He need not worry over one,
Who like him would have to go
To fight another mindless war.
At last the nightmares ended.
He was at peace once more.

His pride was in this grandson,
The son he hadn't had;
This boy who said he wanted
To be like his old granddad.
With one last wave, he limped away
With his Mary by his side.
His nightmares had not ended.
That night the soldier cried.

By:Joyuce 4/30/03


[This message has been edited by Joyce Johnson (05-01-2003 04:42 PM).]

© Copyright 2003 Joyce I Johnson - All Rights Reserved
junemac
Senior Member
since 2003-04-24
Posts 1005
uk
1 posted 2003-05-01 05:05 PM


and i cried too . really joyce i did !!!!! oh what a talent for storytelling and creating a very emotional poem. you are an inspiration joyce. thank you for sharing this one with us.

the pain of war never goes away.

hugs to you from june x

Joyce Johnson
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-03-10
Posts 9912
Washington State
2 posted 2003-05-01 05:58 PM


Thank you junemac.  I created this one yesterday for a friend of mine who was wanting it to read to some veterans.  Joyce
aries_luv_ppl
Senior Member
since 2001-09-20
Posts 1448
Universal Mind
3 posted 2003-05-02 08:45 AM


oh Joyce, ever I since I read the Quiet on Western Front, I can feel the terror of war, and that no soldiers are crowd, or shouldn't be honor, for each is fighting for its home. They are but under control of government. There is no fine line between who is the enemies.....for all of them are victims!

Eliza Simmons
~Every girl has a dream within.

aries_luv_ppl
Senior Member
since 2001-09-20
Posts 1448
Universal Mind
4 posted 2003-05-02 08:45 AM


k this is just to put this fine piece into my library.

Eliza Simmons
~Every girl has a dream within.

Marge Tindal
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Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores
5 posted 2003-05-02 12:40 PM


Joyce~
This is as fine a piece of writing as I've seen from your pen~

Tenderly touching~
*Huglets*
~*Marge*~

~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~
noles1@totcon.com

Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648

6 posted 2003-05-02 04:18 PM


Very touching, Joyce. *tears*
Trillium
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Member Patricius
since 2001-03-09
Posts 12098
Idaho, USA
7 posted 2003-05-02 07:19 PM


Joyce:  This is a wonderfully written poem and such a heart-wrenching story. You have done a fine job with it.

Betty Lou Hebert

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