The Vietnam Wall Poem by BRUCE MARTONE

I COULDN'T BELIEVE MY EYE
WENT I READ THE PAPER
IT WAS SUCH A BIG SURPRISE
CAUSE I'M A THIRTY FIVE YEAR OLD
VIETNAM VET
WITH A PATCH ON MY RIGHT EYE
YOU SEE I FOUGHT A WAR
WHERE THERE WAS NO LOUD BANDS
OR A WELCOME HOME BANNER
OR CLAPPING HANDS
WHEN I GOT OFF THE BUS
JUST PLENTY OF PROTEST
AND THERE SONGS
AND STILL I
FELT LIKE I DIDN'T BELONG
CAUSE I DID MY TOUR OF DUTY
NOW THAT WAS TEN YEARS AGO
IN SEVENTY FIVE
NOW EIGHTY FIVE
AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW
THEY FINISHED A WALL FOR US VETS
NOW I TRAVEL THOUSANDS MILES
HITCH HIKING MOST OF THE WAY
AND NOW WALKING THE REST
SHOULD MAKE IT THERE TODAY
AND I DID WITH NO REGRETS
WEARING MY UNIFORM PROUD
TO SAY I'M A VET
NOW I'M LOOKING UP
MY BROTHERS NAMES ON THE WALL
ONE BY ONE AND WIPING MY EYES
SALUTING EVERY NAME THAT I SERVE WITH
AND PROUDLY SAYING GOODBYE