Sacrifice and Betrayal

Here I am, lost among cold cobblestones
hoping and waiting for generosity to reach out to me.
Here I am, stranded among atrocity alone
begging for spare change or someone to at least see.

See the pain on this street that I live!
See intentional betrayal caught under the floodlights so bright!
For our country, our lives we did give!
For what? To become homeless? Cast out of sight?

Monuments and memorials with names engraved. . .
War time veterans the people gather to see
but not the ones that can’t be saved-
Like oil and vinegar are we with PTSD

Americans don’t want to see the truth of war-
The price the soldiers pay for their freedom.
They want their happiness to go on evermore-
Like nothing bad will happen; they don’t know the demons.

Here I am, standing among the cobblestones so cold
hoping and waiting for someone to be so bold.
Wave the flag but break out from the mold!
Give me some food because I served and I'm old!