You did not leave me my friend.

Some scars cannot heal. We learn to live with them.

                  
                                   You did not leave me my friend.

Old man sat alone.
Whiskey and gin is his friend tonight.
The V.A hospital pain killers don't help.
His fate cannot be opposed.
Old war wounds given without notice is slowly killing his body.

The valor of war is broken now.
The man sees only blood and death.
He left for Vietnam.
A prophet to save a broken people.

He forfeit his dreams to swim in s**t and blood.
He raised his glass to friends left in the dirt of a lost war.
He wished he had told his friends.
Thank you for watching my back.
 He whispered "I will be joining you soon."

He sits in lonely places now.
Waiting for the slow death to finish him off.
In the blood of courage he left home in 1963.
Volunteered for war the USA said would save the world.

I sat with my friend.
I ordered a double of Jack and a pint of cold beer.
I looked at my friend. Once a 220 pound man with strength
and hope. Now barely, a 100 pound man and can barely walk.
 
He looked at me. He gave me a big Canadian smile and told me.
"You did not leave me my friend."

I hugged my old friend. I met him a few years back. Trying to drink
myself to death. He told me. "You don't know nothing. You have a chance.
Cancer ain't killing you. Wake up."

I watched him drink the Jack Daniels. He told me.
"Jack Daniels hadn't let me down yet. Pain ain't too bad. Doctors told me
soon I will be done."

My friend loved his Toronto Maple leafs. We watched many games.
I go to the downtown tavern and watch hockey alone now.
My friend died on a cold Winter day and found peace.
I hope his brothers are waiting for a fellow Soldier.

Some wars outlast the battles.
Some sickness eats at the body and soul.
My friend never complained about the pain.
He told me if he had one wish.
Would be to take the s**t of war out of his head.

I drink the Jack Daniel and drink my cold Canadian beer.
I can hear my friend.
"You did not leave me my friend".

                                Coyote
                           July 2012

Author's Note

War can be a slow killer. It is sad to watch people died. Funny part. Good people can lead us to a better place after they have been in hell.

Reviews

[Kaya]

This is so poignant, as is a lot of your work. It's a heartbreaking thing to watch, even for someone with no experience of what they're going through. I do love the way your poems, even when they break my heart, seem to offer a sense of hope. Thank you.

[Eric Richard]

This is a sad poem but a nice reflection on the war and possibly Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The narrator has lost the will to live and would like to rejoin his buddies.

[Aidz]

From everyone we meet we steal shadows and from life we learn

[Amila Jay]

Some wars outlast the battles.
Some sickness eat at the body and soul.
My friend never complained about the pain.
He told me if he had one wish.
Would be to take the s**t of war out of his head.

Brilliant write :))

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

When someone touches our life they will always live inside our heart... a very touching story.

[Renée]

Coyote..Thank you for opening up and sharing this powerful story with us..I will always listen to you dear Man

[Wolf's Dark Song]

A very moving tale. Some memories haunt us forever.

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Heartbreaking to be honest, it evolves around a most sacred bound among humans and is horrid when felt, well done, good read.

[Tomi]

It's sad to lose loved ones but their footprints on our hearts keep us going. I thoroughly enjoyed this!
I drink the Jack Daniel and drink my cold Canadian beer.
I can hear my friend.
"You did not leave me my friend". Thank you for Sharing :)

[afra]

beautiful and deep ....well done ..and thank you for sharing this