JUST A COMMON SOLDIER

  He was getting old and paunchy
and his hair was falling fast,
  And he sat around the Legion
telling stories of his past.
  Of a war that he had fought in
and the deeds that he had done,
  In his exploits with his buddies --
they were heroes every one
  And though sometimes, to his
neighbors, his tales became a joke,
  All of his Legion buddies listened,
for they knew whereof he spoke.
  But we'll hear his tales no longer,
for old Bill has passed away
  And the worlds a little poorer --
for a soldier died today.
  He was just a common soldier,
and his ranks are growing thin,
  But his presence should remind
us we may need his likes again.
  For when countries are in conflict,
then we find the soldiers part
  Is to clean up all the troubles --
that others oftenstart.
  If we cannot do him honor,
while he's here to hear the praise,
  Then at least let's give him homage,
at the ending of his days.
  Perhaps a notice
in a paper that would say:
  "Our country is in mourning,
'cause a Soldier passed away."


A. Lawrence Vaincourt
from 'RHYMES AND REFLECTIONS'