A SOLDIER DIED TODAY

He was getting old and paunchy, and his hair was falling fast
He sat around the Legion Hall, 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 though 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 John 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. though a soldier died today.
When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,
while thousands note their passing, and proclaim how they were great.

Papers tell 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
some jerk 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 was not the politicians, their compromises and there ploys,
who won for us the freedom, that our country still enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,
would you really want some politician with his ever waffling stand,
or would you want a soldier, his home, his country, and his kin,
just a common soldier, who’d fight for freedom until the end?

He was just a common soldier, and his ranks are growing too thin,
but his presence should remind us, we may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, we find the soldiers part
is to clean up all the mess, that the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor, While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least give him homage, at the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline, in the paper that might just say;
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

Author Unknown