One tin soldier walked away..


One tin soldier walked away…

 I had a friend in the Army.
He sat alone and he talked to no-one and
he was a large black man of twenty-one.
I made him befriend me.
I sat for weeks at breakfast and lunch with him.
One day, he asked me.
What the fuck do you want?
I told him. I see heavy sadness and 
if you need someone to talk to.
Please talk to me.
I told him I re-joined the Army because of two brothers committing suicide.
I understand sadness, I understand being pissed-off.
He told me. There were thousands dead bodies.
Me and my unit cleaned-up Death valley.
Some were screaming and we couldn’t help them, that were in pieces.
The leaders told us, we won and we must celebrate.
I body-bags so many and I remember every face.
I couldn’t celebrate the murder of so many men.
I was send here to be healed.
I told him my name is Johnnie and I have a truck on the base.
You and me will wander away from the base this weekend.
You name the place, you need to go.
He gave me his hand and he told me my name is Bobbie.
Virginia born. And I need the sea.
We found the Atlantic and I made him drink the Black Velvet whiskey.
He told me. I have a great mama and three sisters.
They worry for me.
We drank and drank.
We told the Army to fuck off, we told the world to fuck off.
He turned to me and he asked me.
What are you fucking with me?
He stood-up and he tossed off his shoes.
He tossed his wallet to the sand and he ran into the Winter Atlantic.
I ran to him and I swear. Someone was standing with him.
I grasps him in my arms and he turned to me.
Johnnie, I am okay.
I won’t kill no-more, I won’t fight no-more.
I will leave the Army.
A month later, at the bus station.
I stood with him and he was smiling.
He told me, my mama is waiting for me in Virginia.
My sisters wanted to come and get me.
I told him, I am okay and I would see them soon.
Thank you Johnnie for befriending me.
I was one-step from suicide when you sat with me and you wouldn’t allow me to die.
My mama will take care of me and my sister will keep me strong.
I reached my hand to him and he reached his arms around me.
Gave me a bear hug and he told me.
If you need a friend. Please come to my home in Northern Virginia.
I watched him load the bus and I waved goodbye.
I wrote to my journal.
“They told the tin soldier, he have won.
He stood in center of 20,000 dead men and he asked God.
Who won? Brothers, sons and fathers laid dead around him.
The tin soldier cried for men, who cannot cry no-more.
The tin soldier body-bags men and he prayed for each one.
Now the tin soldier is walking away and he saw no winner.
Just blood on his hands, that he can’t clean-off his hands.
Now the tin soldier walked away. He hope one day.
He can forgot war and the blood red hands will be clean again.”
Coyote


© 2022 Coyote Poetry
Category : poetry
Tags : , , , , , ,