I was just nineteen

Just words.

                         

                           I was just nineteen

15,000 day ago, he was a soldier.

He learn the soldier's minute, fight or die?

kill or run?

Young man thought he was saving his world,

he came home, was called a baby-killer at the airport, returning home.

He tried to hide his  ugly face, he show fake face to his world,

rarely showing real face.  No-one want to listen to a crazed man.

The old man told me, I am alone.

I don't like no-one and I receive 100% disability from the Army.

He told me, I lost my youth to Vietnam, lost dear wife to bad dreams and anger outburst.

I lost my buddies in the Asia dirt.

I tried to talk to him and he looked at me and he whispered to me. Too late to talk about it, too

late to thank me for my service. I became what I am. No-one want to befriend a b*****d, left behind

and forgotten.

I left him be. I understand his story. My father waited forty years to receive a ribbon for the Korea war. He did appreciate. Today the Vietnam vets are showing their colors, maybe the "Thank you" is too late to have any meaning.

                         Dancing Coyote

Author's Note

Some words.

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

regardless of what we thought about the Vietnam War....we should have had respect for those who fought...they were drafted mostly and were just doing their duty for their country...
they weren't the ones behind the desks making the decision...the treatment was despicable....
and there should have been Thank You's to begin with...too little too late now.
j.

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree my friend. Even the forgotten war "Korean war". No medal was given till 1996.

[PaintedBirdy]

i thank you unconditionally for what you did, if this is autobiographical. i respect my elders because they worked and fought for the amazing life i have today. i may have a million problems still but life is blessed because of all ya'll, it's not because of me. so thank you. and good write. i'm ashamed of anyone who would shame a soldier, they just don't know any better because they haven't seen the real world.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you my friend. I was a soldier but the poem for a friend. Who is struggling with life.

[Chris Shaw]

This makes me both mad and sad at the same time. Those young men were doing a job, fighting for their country and I find it despicable the way they were treated. Indeed it is shameful. Your lines a reminder Coyote of what a harsh world we live in. We should be thanking our soldiers for their service.

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree dear Chris. They had a gathering of Vietnam Vets at Fort Hood. 60% were homeless in 1996. Thank you for reading.

[Jade]

Oh wow very dramatic scene to have play through the mind and heart!
Very deep emotional read.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Brandie. I appreciate the comment.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

You raise some important questions here Coyote John. The politicians who sent these kids to die and die alive on return from war then make them invisible and live as ghosts. You tell this tale in a sympathetic and descriptive write.

[Coyote Poetry]

A man come to my work. No-one liked him. He is a Vietnam vet, angry and alone. I wrote the poem for him. We do talk and thank you John for reading and the comment.

[Karmee]

Such a sad write, feel this tug at the heartstrings.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you dear friend. The people of the USA waited too long to apology.