Poet’s Corner: “Veteran” – Robin Clark

It is the person of the heart which holds the heart of others.
The hearts of Sisters, Brothers, Fathers, the hearts of our Dear Mothers.
They go and battle for who they love,
The Whats, the Whys, and those above.

They take the chance to lose their life
To say good bye to man and wife….
To leave their Mom’s and Dad’s at home
To know they may be left to roam:

To roam the fields of death’s despair;
To walk the land mines on the dare.
That they will live to see sunset,
As they sweat to pay the debt.

A debt for freedom in our land,
A payment made, which goes in hand
Of every person you can count;
Americans which will amount,

To people reading this right now;
To people whom might disavow,
The right to fight for freedom’s dreams:
The right for living to extremes.

It makes no difference who you are…
The what, or why you might disbar,
Those which live a different life,
A soldier’s life’s to play the fife.

A fife, which whistle’s Man’s belief
Where safety is a true relief;
Equalities abound to share;
To live a life without a care.

And so we thank you on this day.
For your courage lights the way
For us to speak what’s on our mind
To exercise a truth that shined,

Upon our flag, we’ve come to share.
Our Stars and Stripes forever bear…
Commandments which allow us to,
Salute in faith, Red, White and Blue.

Top photo: Washington, D.C., March 25, 2016: Lone red carnation and American flag at Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Bigstock Photo.