A SOLDIER DIED TODAY

He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast,
And he sat at the legion, telling stories of his 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 Ol' Bob 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, 'tho 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.

Papers tell of their life stories, from the time 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 promises 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 politicians stipend and the style in which he lives,
are often disproportionate to the service he gives.

While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal and perhaps a pension, small.

It's easy to forget them, for so many times,
That our Bobs and Bills went to battle, but we still pine.

It was not the politicians with their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us our freedom that our Country enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some 'cop-out' with his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier, his home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier, who would fight until the end?

He was just a common Soldier, and his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us we may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict, we find the Soldier's part,
Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.

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