Every time we bring him,
It seems nothing has changed.
Throughout everything, his
love for country never estranged.
So
Do you help him?
Or do you complain,
“Oh my god, his words-
are so profane”
Profanity…please,
your’s would be too
if he made you suffer
the way He's made to.
Sit there and do nothing,
like your hands are filled
with lead.
Cause after all,
“He’s cheaper when he’s dead”.
What’s wrong with this country?
That we would let,
all of this happen
to a Vietnam Vet.
Sprayed with Agent Orange
never once, did he complain.
Came home to be spat upon,
did he fight for you in vain?
Health care, please, That’s
what you’re calling this?
How can you call it that?
When it’s his Health, that
you dismiss.
This man fought through,
and survived
The Tet Offensive
He can’t survive You,
that’s why he's
so defensive.
“Sky soldier”, they called him,
first in, and last out.
but when he enlisted,
he wasn't told what
You were about.
He earned two Bronze Stars,
trying to protect you.
Taking care of him now,
is the least that you
Should do!
Purple Hearts were given,
For the injuries he obtained
Is it too much to ask,
for his dignity to be
regained?
Now
Once more we bring him,
to lie in your hospital bed.
The country he gave his health for,
could care less if he was dead.
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Author notes
Sadly, this was written about my father, and the fact that the Veterans Administration Hospitals and Doctors ( and I speak from first hand knowledge) could care less if he lives or dies, often refuse to see him, or they turn him away when he is in dire need of their help, and the problems gets worse (ie. after I called and asked that his doctor appt. get moved up b/c he couldn't walk & was disoriented, they refused...the next day he had a 2nd stroke, now possibly having to have his foot amputated because they ignored an infection after he whent to them twice for help).
He was, is, and always will be; A Soldier, A Patriot, A Hero, A Son, A Husband, A Father, and A Papa!
He deserves better.
Comments Welcome! Please, nothing negative about the service, this is personal, thank you for doing us the honor of reading.
Comments
1 - 19 of 19
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Yo
Whether or not we might agree or disagree on the causes and conduct of that war, you have every reason to be proud of your father; and grateful for his service and sacrfice. Men and women of whom the country was not worthy.
Men [and some women] of our generation were reviled for the sins of the government of the day. A government system which you correctly lambasted for its continued neglect.
However, my concern for the children [now adults] of your dad's and my generation is that you do not become bitter at government and social neglect. It is a great sorrow to see wives and children of veterans develop secondary PTSD.
{While it is not a joking matter, here is a dark joke circulating among Viet Nam Vets here in Australia, it shows the depth of anger that is still felt:
"How many Aussie Vets does take to change a light bulb? - How would you know! You weren't there!}
[No review, 'cause that would detract from the sentiment of the poem.]
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Gagiikwe
hi, and thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a great comment! I think that we agree more than we disagree. Your concern for our resentment towards the government are well founded, and my discontent is certainly displayed in this poem. However, I do love my country, I simply have a very large problem with the way that all vets are treated and the level of care that is offered by the Veterans Administration in particular. I am guilty of anger in the highest degree for their neglect and lack of concern. I do realize that I speak of these matters as an outsider, but I have a lifetime of watching him relive the atrocities of war, and have been watching him die a horrible and extremely painful death everyday for years now, with no other options for health care but the VA offered, red tape driven, system that is "the reward for his service". I truly believe that any man or woman brave enough to fight for their country, should receive no less than what the fat cat lawmakers get for "their service" to the country. I am also angry that I have had to fight them every step of the way constantly checking up on them, catching mistake after mistake, all the while knowing that not all vets have someone that can donate 100% of their time to do this, and those honorable people are falling through the cracks of a very broken system. I hope that one day I can take part in a movement for change in a system long overdue a complete overhaul. Wow, I guess I had a lot to say on the matter.
I am going to assume that you are a vet as well, and for that I give to you my utmost respect and admiration. I thank you for taking the time to read this poem, and for leaving the comment that you did, it is appreciated!
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I salute thee
Was in service no combat. Have and had friends who served in Nam. Some of the best friends anyone could ever image. There doing the same thing to the Iraq vets as they did to the vietnam vets. (PTSD)..I salute your father and If you would thank him for me. From one vet to another. A friend
language: 4, rhythm: 3, subject: 5, tone: 5, form: 5.
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NoblePoetry
Thank you so much for your honorable comment! I will definitely tell him for you. Thank you for your service as well, whether in combat or not it remains one of the most admirable things to me!
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That's very angering...
That is ridiculous! I never have understood why the veterans are treated so awfully...of course, I wasn't even thought of at the time of this war.
This is very well written and captivating. It definitely kept me reading.
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Annie
Thank you so much for stopping by and reading and taking the time comment! I too find it ridiculous the way that they are mistreated, thank you so much for your compassion and your thoughtful comment it is very much appreciated!
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good job on using writing as a way of healing and as a form of art. It's terribly sad what's happening to your father and others like him everywhere else in the world in similar situations. I hope things improve, or at least don't get worst for your father. And he deserves much more respect than what he gets, it's sad but money rules and makes decisions. That's the way of the world. good imagery and you made a lot of good points, I'm surprised that even after most people's opinions about Vietnam vets have changed that yet they still don't get proper health care.
TTYS
MM
language: 3, rhythm: 4, subject: 4, tone: 4, form: 4.
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Marcus
Hey mister...Thanks so much for coming by this poem! It means the world to me. I agree totally with you on this, money does make the decisions that make the world go round, and it is so sad! Thank you so much for your kind words and wishes to my father! Its always a pleasure to see you in my comments. I too agree that this is a great way to get your feelings out there, and has proven to be effective for me, more than once. Thanks again, and I hope to talk to you again soon!
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Your father's service is valuable to me. I agree that our government does FAR TOO LITTLE to care for our vets. It is tragic. They should be moved to the front of the line, EVERY TIME!
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Carly
Thank you very much for your kind words...I agree with you 100%. But, maybe one mad daughter with a very big mouth, can start the ball of change rolling one can only hope, I am working on it. Thanks again for your kindness!
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Wow.
Beautiful poem. I'll leave it at that, except this comment:
My family is a military family. My brother, enlisting in the National Guard, my dad, retired from the Air Force, my Pa, a Vietnam vet, and my three uncles and one cousins, active and in Iraq. I am personally insulted that your father has been treated so, and you should now there ARE people out in the world who appreciate him and all he's done for our country. -
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LakeAbscence
Wow. What a legacy you have before you, I cannot thank you enough for your kind, and caring words; this coming from a member of a family filled with so many American heroes, means more than you will ever know. Your comments and compassion are appreciated, and I am honored to have your family heritage here in my comments...thank you and your family very much!
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while i do not agree wtih war, i DO agree that the veterans should be respected, honored, and treated well...i am sorry that this has happened to someone who fought hard for what they believed and what, at that time at least, the country believed as well...that someone who fought for our country should be treated badly by the same people he fought to protect....
but this poem is very good...though some of the rhyming was...it seemed forced.
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Dirty
Thanks for the comment, and your kindness. It is a shame, thats for sure, and a horrible thing to have to watch someone go through. Again thanks.
If you wouldn't mind could you elaborate on which areas seemed forced? -
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you're welcome...
i don't know...O.o...
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BRAVO!
Poems can often be soulless. I have never read one of your poems that was written soullessly though. This one is awesome and its obvious why. You are very much writing from the heart. You say you are not a writer but this one especially shows evidence to the contrary. I hope everything gets better for him and you. I am very impressed! I love this line 'but when he enlisted,
he wasn't told what You were about.' So many soldiers were sent into battle for their lives that were fought over politics they did not understand nor care about. thank you for posting this!
language: 4, rhythm: 3, subject: 5, tone: 4, form: 3.
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Enoq
It means a lot to me to hear you say the things you have here! I think the reasons my poems have "soul" so to say, is because that little voice that tells me the lines, only speaks to me about the things that are deeply affecting me. I really cant tell you how much it means to me that you get the fact that these are not meaningless expressions put on paper to fill space. Thank you for the wonderful comment, and your kind words! Much respect, and gratitude!
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The very thought of these Atrocities,
stirs very strong emotions in me. The first time I read this it brought tears to my eyes. It is more than a shame that our vets. are treated this way. If all people with injurys and illness were treated this way America would quickly fall apart. It is hard to give an objective review on this type of poem because my emotions try to get the best of me. I do however have a couple more suggestions on this poem. The line {like you make him do} is kind of awkward. [The way you want him to] seems more natural or {Like what you put him through]. Just a couple of thoughts ofcourse. I'm not sure but I might suggest splitting the line {no one told him what / you were all about}. If you decide not to change anything I'd certainly understand. Like you said - this is very personal. You did a great job.
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Brian
Thank you so much for your kind words!!! I do think you are right on that line, I too had a hard time with ending it in do, your suggestions are wonderful and appreciated, what do you think about making it read
"if he made You suffer
the way that he's made to"
is that still awkward? let me know what you think, honestly.
This Is very personal but as long as the lines don't loose there meaning I am always willing to hear suggestions, this was one of the lines that I personally didn't like the flow of, and again I have to thank you. I look forward to hearing back from you on this. I too value your opinion!
Just Added: I made quite a few changes, and rearranges...let me know what you think...
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