With a broken body and broken mind Hobbles crippled into the park to sit Daily watch feeding some crumbled old bread rinds To a few friendly birds he'd never quit
Tattered clothing old and out of fashion A rough, hard weathered look upon his face His are endless days without much passion While Passerbys glance away in disgrace
Long ago wounded and now most forgetful His body wrecked with the passing of time A great victory no less merciful Listen every noon the church bells still chime
Pitiful sight whose clothes have such a stench Sits a great hero on Penniless Bench
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Posted: Jun 2012
About this poem:
Reflective of many , old and downtrodden folks who have once served in wartime only to be left behind by an ungrateful nation. Sad but all too true.....
Its pathetic Yankee seeing these people who once who were someone and had something and now nothing.It brings tears to my eyes.Wish the world clould be a better place where people cared for each other,but times have become so hard that some struggle to keep body and soul together(food,shelter and integrity).Like the themes you touch on.
CloudySkyMoreno Valley, California USAJun 16, 2012
My heart goes out to those who gave so much and yet seem forgotten. I loved this message to those forgotten heros.
AhyraAdelaide, South Australia AustraliaJun 16, 2012
Yes, very sad, and very true. Nice write Yankee. Thank you
Odette67Penrith, Cumbria, England UKJun 16, 2012
Long ago wounded and now most forgetful His body wrecked with the passing of time
Same things happen here to our old soldiers...Who fought for our freedom...We live in a world of..."Me Myself I" No one seems to care...
Very thought provoking Sonnet Yankee.
Poetnumber1St James, Port of Spain Trinidad and TobagoJun 16, 2012
Hi Yankee,a lovely message.We do feel for those who fight for something worthwhile and in the end be treated as a lot of refuse,sad but most common in the world in which we live.
cafetwo2010Harford county, Maryland USAJun 16, 2012
A magnificent poem and tribute to those who have made true sacrifices Yank. A nice poem to be placked in every local park. A poem worthy to be printed in your local paper if I may say so..
windyweatherlySan Francisco, California USAJun 16, 2012
Pitiful sight whose clothes have such a stench Sits a great hero on Penniless Bench
Steve, this is really troubling. Not to mention their mind being a razor for bad experience and then they end up in the gutter? and penniless becnh? it makes me wonder, do we really care for these forlorn, sad and helpless souls? we should realldy do something about it.
Thanks for sharing a sad tale and truth..
Windy
EarlgreyteaLimassol, CyprusJun 19, 2012
as a veteran, i applaud your write, we're quickly forgotten, its a big wrong, but, there you go, thanks for bringing the plight of our fellow humans to light...
It's been a week since I wrote this...during my day to day interactions delivering mail in a small city...I see and hear so much gossip...but try not and repeat it...but too many old vets...now from the Vietnam conflict....have sufferred too much...and while I thnak your comments....let none of us forget the terrible cost of war passed on many years and many generations later....it's to great a cost for many...it's just plain sad.....very very sad....
Comments (9)
His body wrecked with the passing of time
Same things happen here to our old soldiers...Who fought for our freedom...We live in a world of..."Me Myself I" No one seems to care...
Very thought provoking Sonnet Yankee.
Sits a great hero on Penniless Bench
Steve, this is really troubling. Not to mention their mind being a razor for bad experience and then they end up in the gutter? and penniless becnh? it makes me wonder, do we really care for these forlorn, sad and helpless souls? we should realldy do something about it.
Thanks for sharing a sad tale and truth..
Windy