I feel as if I’m no longer here.
I'm alive, but just not living.
I look to the sky, and wish I could fly;
But these wings are just not giving.
My body is tired, my soul is worn,
And my mind is in a haze.
I look around, and I think to myself,
"Will I ever get out of this place?"
40 years later, I stand on this curb,
Still trying to understand;
With my cup of change,
And my hunger pangs,
A 'Will Work for Food' sign in my hand.
I think of my brothers who have died overseas,
In a war that was fought in the name of peace.
I still hear the gunshots,
I still feel the pain,
I still mourn the loss
Of my buddies, in vain.
Each night before bed, on my knees I would pray:
Lord, please help us all make it thru one more day.
And each time I would lie down to sleep at night,
Or, at least each time I would try,
To the sounds of bombs in the background playing:
A Fallen Angel’s Lullaby.
I see the people around me;
I’m surrounded, but feel so alone.
Is this the hell that awaits me
For some terrible thing that I’ve done?
I sit back and try to repent
For anything that I’ve done wrong.
I look at my life, and think that it sounds
Like the words to a sad, sad song.
I return to where I stay at
Although it’s not my home.
And I tell myself, at least I have myself,
No matter where I roam.
And, as I lay down in the bed that I’ve made,
And ignore the cars passing by,
Echoes of the past ring in my ears,
A Fallen Angel’s Lullaby.
I think of my brothers who died overseas,
In a war that was fought in the name of peace.
I still hear the gunshots,
I still feel the pain,
I still mourn the loss
Of my buddies, in vain.
Each night before bed, on my knees I do pray:
Lord, please help us all make it home one day.
And, as I rest my head to sleep,
I softly start to cry;
It’s then I realize this is the sound of
A Fallen Angel’s Lullaby.
This is dedicated to the United States Veterans who fought to keep us free; those who gave their lives, and those who still live the nightmare after all of this time.
Many of these veterans who survived returned home thinking that the worst was behind them; only to find that it was just the beginning.
There are over 634,000 homeless people in the United States; over 60,000 are veterans.
So the next time you see that gentleman who lives down the street wearing his “Vietnam Veteran” cap; take a moment to shake his hand and tell him “Thank You”. He lived that nightmare, so you wouldn’t have to. And, the next time you’re at that stoplight, and you see the scruffy old man in the same tattered clothes he had on yesterday, with the sign or change cup (the one that everybody calls the local bum or worse); remember that maybe he walks around and talks to himself and maybe he needs a bath, but maybe what he really needs is a “Thank You For Serving Our Country”.
Until you have put yourself, and walked in his ripped and worn-out shoes, you can’t even begin to imagine the nightmare he is still trapped in.
If everyone who read this took a moment to thank someone who has served or is still serving our country, we would be strengthening our community, and our country, so much more than we realize.
Military personnel are the backbone of our country (both veterans and active duty), and being such carries a tremendous amount of weight at times. Sometimes, a seemingly unbearable amount. But, them doing so, helps to keep us standing and strong. It helps us in knowing our families and homes are safer. It helps to protect our rights and freedoms that our forefathers fought for in the beginning.
With this being said, a simple “Thank You” seems the very least we could give back.
