The Homeless Vet Poem by BRUCE MARTONE

THE HOMELESS VET.
HE SOLD HIS LAST DREAM
TO THIS GUY FOR HIS MEAL
THAN HE WALK AWAY
THE GUY YELLS BACK
THANKS FOR THAT SWEET DEAL
HE YELLS BACK YOUR WECLOME
AS HE LEAVES
WHISPERING MAKE IT COME REAL.
NOW HE GOES BACK TO HIS BOX
UNDER THE BRIDGE
HE GOES BACK TO LIVING HIS LIFE
WITH NO MORE DREAMS TO DREAM
JUST HIS DULL KNIFE
AND HIS SILENT SCREAM
WHEN HE LOOKS BACK ON HIS LIFE.
NOW HE SLEEPS WITH ONE EYE OPEN
AS HE USES THE STARS LIGHT
AS A NIGHT LIGHT
IN CASE SOME FOOL WANTS TO FIGHT
TO STEAL WHAT HE GOT, WHICH ISN`T A LOT.
NOW HE SLEEP UNTIL THE MORNING
GETTING UP GRABBING HIS BEGGING CUP
BUT IT`S GETS SO BORING
BECAUSE NOBODY FILLS IT UP.
NOW THE NIGHT GETTING COLDER
AND THE SHELTERS ARE FULL
BUT HE DOESN`T THINK THATS RIGHT
THAT HE DOESN`T HAVE ANY PULL
BECAUSE HE WAS A VET
FIGHTING THAT WAR OVER THERE
BUT HE STILL GETS UPSET
THAT NOBODY SEEM TO CARE
SO HE GOES TO THE HIGHEST BUILDING
TO THE HIGHEST LEDGE
TRYING TO BALANCE HIMSELF
WHEN HE GETS TO THE EDGE
NOT WANTING TO TALK TO ANYONE ELSE
SO THEY WON`T TALK HIM DOWN
WHEN HE COUNTS TO THREE
BEFORE HITING THE GROUND