Leased Toys Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

Few have military backgrounds.
The ones that do...
Aren't the ones sobbing on another's sleeve,
About a life
Diminished by a lack of affordable materialism.
Or teased by weekly sales.

Once one decides to give their life away for a belief...
It's not difficult to see those weeping,
Without an emotion to express empathy.
Because a creditor keeps them from sleeping.
While those who give their time to civic duty...
Return to streets.
To be ignored!
Becoming homeless to live undernouished.
After displays of bravery...
And courage.
To now have nothing to eat!
On familiar turf they grew.
Played and chose to defend!

That's BS!
And other terms that could be used,
To express this 'wounding' of disrespect.
Shown blatantly and has long lasting affect.

Few have military backgrounds.
And they are the ones seen,
Screaming!
Because someone says they can not pay what is due...
To stay comforted in familiar surroundings,
With their mortgaged and leased toys!