John
At age twenty he could run two miles in nine and a half minutes.
He could do fifty push-ups without breaking a sweat and
One hundred sit-ups didn't phase him at all.
His dark hair, sparkling eyes, and quick smile won him many friends.
His comrades knew they could count on him for anything.
His life goal was to teach high school history.
He saved every penny he could toward its achievement.
At age fifty-five he needs help to do the most mundane things.
None of his friends know where to find him.
He now sees his family once a month, maybe.
His world consists of a nine by twelve room at a veterans home,
Nightmares of an armed jungle patrol and a booby trap exploding.
His only companions are a Purple Heart
And dreams of what might have been.
Copyright ©2003 Don Tyson
Webmaster: Thurman P. Woodfork
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