A SOLDIER DIED TODAY

He was getting old and paunchy; and his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the legion, telling stories of the past.
Of the war that he fought in, and the deeds that he had done.
In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes everyone.

And tho sometimes to his neighbours, his tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened, for they knew where of he spoke,
But we'll here his tales no longer, for 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, quietly going 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 stores, 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 county...and offers up his life?

The politician's stipend, and the style in which he lives,
Are sometimes disproportionate, to the service that he gives.
While the ordinary soldiers, who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal, and perhaps a pension...small.

It's so easy to forget them, for it is so long ago,
That our Bob's and Jim's and Harold's, went to battle, but we know.
It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys'
Who won for us the freedom, that your country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, with your enemies at hand;
Would you really what some cop out, with his ever waffling stand?
Or would you want a soldier, who has sworn to defend,
His home, his kin and country, and 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, then we find the soldiers part,
Is to clean up all the troubles, that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honour, while he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least lets 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"

Author Unknown