Old Soldier
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;
And his exploits with his buddies,
They were heroes, every one!
And many-a-times to his neighbours,
His tales became a joke;
But his buddies listened quietly,
For they knew of what he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For the Old Soldier has passed away;
And the world's a little poorer,
For a Soldier died today.
He won't be mourned by many,
Just his buddies and his wife;
For he lived a very ordinary,
And 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,
Though 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.
Newspapers tell their life stories,
From the time they were young;
But the passing of a Soldier,
Goes unnoticed and unsung.
Is the greatest service and contribution,
To the welfare of our land;
That of a jerk who breaks his promise,
And cons his fellow man?
Or is it that of the ordinary fellow,
Who in times of war and strife;
Goes off to defend 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 a pension, oh so small.
It is neither politicians nor news reporters,
With their compromise and ploys;
Who won for us the freedom,
That our country now enjoys?
If you ever find your state in danger,
With an ill-intentioned enemy at hand;
Would you really want a CM or a PM,
With his ever waffling stand?
Or would you want a Soldier,
All business and no fun;
Ignored, disliked and badly treated,
But who would fight until he's done?
He may be an ordinary Soldier,
But he doesn't come a dozen a dime;
And our borders should remind us,
We may need him any time.
For when countries are in conflict,
We find that the Soldier's part;
Is to clean up all the troubles,
That the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honour,
While he's here to hear the praise;
Then at least let's give him homage,
At the end of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline,
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY".
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;
And his exploits with his buddies,
They were heroes, every one!
And many-a-times to his neighbours,
His tales became a joke;
But his buddies listened quietly,
For they knew of what he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For the Old Soldier has passed away;
And the world's a little poorer,
For a Soldier died today.
He won't be mourned by many,
Just his buddies and his wife;
For he lived a very ordinary,
And 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,
Though 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.
Newspapers tell their life stories,
From the time they were young;
But the passing of a Soldier,
Goes unnoticed and unsung.
Is the greatest service and contribution,
To the welfare of our land;
That of a jerk who breaks his promise,
And cons his fellow man?
Or is it that of the ordinary fellow,
Who in times of war and strife;
Goes off to defend 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 a pension, oh so small.
It is neither politicians nor news reporters,
With their compromise and ploys;
Who won for us the freedom,
That our country now enjoys?
If you ever find your state in danger,
With an ill-intentioned enemy at hand;
Would you really want a CM or a PM,
With his ever waffling stand?
Or would you want a Soldier,
All business and no fun;
Ignored, disliked and badly treated,
But who would fight until he's done?
He may be an ordinary Soldier,
But he doesn't come a dozen a dime;
And our borders should remind us,
We may need him any time.
For when countries are in conflict,
We find that the Soldier's part;
Is to clean up all the troubles,
That the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honour,
While he's here to hear the praise;
Then at least let's give him homage,
At the end of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline,
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY".
"Freedom has a taste, and for those that have fought for it,
the taste is so sweet that the protected will never know…"
~ General George Patton
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