Work In Progress
Poetry / Verse

The Soldier
by Bruce Tomalin



Punch the clock
Goodbye to the light

Home
Cold
Dark
Oversized bed

Alone in my grief
Alone in my despair

Leaving she
Took everything
Goodbye to the sunlight
Goodbye to the moon
Goodbye to the stars
Goodbye to the life I can only remember

I tread this path alone now
A scary thought
To have no one
If I wasn’t here
Don’t let anyone replace me

Punch the clock
Respite
People all around me
They laugh and talk with me
I smile I listen and support cheer and otherwise be me
When they leave happiness I see
I look around
No one
Clock the punch
Turn out the light

How much longer is this life?
This cloak wrapped around
I wear this mask to hide the pain
The clown with tears behind

What is wrong with my world that no one ever stays?

Would they take the time?
This isn’t really me!
Too scared to interrupt
This mask becomes me
Self pity is the hole
In which I dwell
The shields are up
I trust no one
Goodbye to the sun
The world
And me

Punch the clock

The soldier marches on
Searching for the bullet
That will remove the cloak
That he dare not
The soldier marches on
Searching for the ally
Promised to everyone

Perhaps there is a bullet
To help me end my quest
Perhaps there is another
Likewise on the hunt
Perhaps one day
I’ll find
Either one


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