Distant Drums ...a young soldiers story.

All Thats Left Of Me
a soldiers story

Sitting in the barroom of destruction 
A pungent odor of whisky and beer
The Wurlitzer plays like a dirge.
A place where souls go to die.

I have no illusions 
I know why I am here.
Its my burden I earned this life. 
I know why she left me ….I know why

I remember our wedding.
I pull a creased photo
out of my pocket.
My God she is beautiful.
I must not go there anymore.
I am Weeped out of tears.

now just the pain stays.
I look at myself in the picture.
So young and handsome.
My uniform white and gold
I am the brave soldier
she always wanted.
We look like movie stars.

Then I went to war.
I can still see the carnage.
The roadside bombs
Children bleeding in the streets.
Women crying for dead
husbands and sons.

They followed me home
like ghost.
And when I slept
next to her beautiful body.
They came in my nightmares.
And made me scream
and weep like a child.

I lost my soul,In that war.
And one day I lost her as well.

The bartender leans forward
and shows her cleavage.
She wants the guy 
in the wedding  photo not me. 

All I want is another drink.
Perhaps one more
Will stop me hurting.