The war after the war

The glare from his medal reflects the smile he can't fake as he gazes into the mirror – blankly

A small fist beaming with oblivion press repeatedly on his door and reminds him of what time the parade starts.

Outside the window, to his left, he can see police men forcing the homeless off the street as if they were sweeping cats tearing slits through the trash bags you leave on the curb.

As he makes eye contact with one - he knows the look of war

Even when spray painted with deep blue eyes and a salt and pepper beard.

Cut to parade

He can see nothing but various shades of flash

Reporters take his picture in hopes that God puts a check mark by the word "empathy" on their report cards

Despite the collage of cameras and the blend of meaningless questions

He notices that ocean blue war look that can never be forgotten

Attempting to make a new home just a block over

Cars spit engine dust from their tail pipe at him as he attempts to salvage change for dinner

He is denied healthcare and will soon die from malnourishment and dehydration

If he doesn't kill himself first

But on one day out of each year

A family feeds their ego by buying him a meal and an outfit

A doctor fuels his pride by giving him a Band-Aid and a bottle of water

A cashier stimulates his self-esteem by the phrase "it’s on the house"

One day a year

We bring kids out of class for an hour

We give donuts and orange juice

We hold a writing contest

To paint a new layer of synthetic gratitude towards those who fight every day from day one of basic training till their last breath for a country who loves them

One day out of the year

And the parade ends

And he throws this fake suit in an alley and sits

Staring at the world with his deep blue eyes

Scratching his salt and pepper beard

Until the next day; next year

When someone's ego needs stroking

When a pedestal is needed to be filled

On Veterans Day