A cup of not-so-cheer is some old soldier’s pint of beer
It helps to remove the fear
For tomorrow they rise and off they steer
Towards the enemy’s lair
Will they live or will they die, they don’t really care?
Because they know that when they train
Victory is always inside their brain
They won’t let that go down the drain
The thinking they all share
But that was way back in their younger day
No more do they wake to go and slay
They’re now old and some just sit and pray
Or think about their greatest day
When together they were all just one
For some of them now life is done
For the rest of them they think of those
From the fine days of unity and fun
Who’s left today and where are they?
As I live my life so far away
When I go back home to see my kids
I’ll see who’s left hanging onto the skids
It’s from doing just fine to doing well
The truth of life some never tell
They hide away their thoughts inside
To remaining quiet and better to hide
The feelings some have and how it smacks
Their crazy old sense of pride
Too many mates have now gone away
Some forever and some for self
Alone somewhere they’d rather stay
They can’t reach for help upon a shelf
No one knows what’s in an old soldier’s head
After a life of dangers to earn one’s bread
Some move on and seem to do so well
While others remain in a life of hell
There is no net for one to be caught
Especially the one who’s become distraught
Or the one that just needs a place to stay
And they’ll never tell anyone that they’re not OK
Bob Shepherd 