Papa's Smile

I thought I saw a smile,

Though I know it can’t be true

Seeing you try so hard,

Part of me died with you

You lived for family, God, and country

The Red, White, and Blue

You served your country valiantly

But they did not serve you

Chemicals, Disease, and Injury

In the end you had to bear

Struggling to communicate

Gasping for breaths of air

The services promised to you

Were the services you did need

More concerned with money

Your life they paid no heed

Everything I did do

Was everything I could

If I was able to do more

There’s no doubt that I would

I tried to entertain you

To keep you from your thoughts

I thought I saw you smile

Paralyzed, you could not