Military Poems

In Order to be in Someone Else's Shoes You Must Take off Your Own

This poem is truely very high on my list of faveorite poems................ It helps me remember that each day we live is a gift, and that we have life really good because of those brave men and women who fight for us.

Your alarm goes off,

You hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 minutes.

He stays up for days on end.

You take a warm shower to help you wake up.

He goes days or weeks without running water.

You complain of a "headache"

And call in sick.

He gets shot at,

As others are hit,

And keeps moving forward.

You put on your antiwar/don't support the

Troops shirt,

And go meet up with your friends.

He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.

You make sure your cell phone is in your pocket.

He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.

You talk trash on your "buddies" that aren't with you.

He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.

You walk down the beach,

Staring at all the pretty girls.

He walks the streets,

Searching for insurgents and terrorists.

You complain about how hot it is.

He wears his heavy gear,

Not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.

You go out to lunch,

And complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.

He does not get to eat today.

You make your bed and wash your clothes.

He wears the same things for months,

But makes sure his weapons are clean.

You go to the mall and get your hair done.

He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.

You are angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.

He is told he will be held an extra 2-3 months.

You call your girlfriend and set a date for that night.

He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.

You hug and kiss your girlfriend,

Like you do every day.

He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.

You roll your eyes as a baby cries.

He gets a letter with pictures of his new child

And wonders if they'll ever meet.

You criticize your government,

And say that war never solves anything.

He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own government,

 And remembers why he is fighting.

You hear the jokes about the war,

And make fun of the men like him.

He hears the gun fire and bombs.

You see only what the media wants you to see.

He sees the bodies lying around him.

You are asked to go to the store by your parents.

You don't.

He does what he is told.

You stay at home and watch TV.

He takes whatever time he is given to call and write home,

Sleep,

And eat.

You crawl into your bed,

With down pillows,

And try to get comfortable.

He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minute nap,

Only to be woken by gun fire.

You sit there and judge him,

Saying the world is a worse place because of men like him.

If only there were more men like him.

~Unknown