.
Deteriorating pants and shirt
Body caked with filth and grime
Greasy fingers parting matted hair
Shell of a man, short on time

Shuffling down the street
One leg slightly dragging
Proudly served my country
Never did any bragging

Lost two of my fingers
Shrapnel in the jungle
Three toes now missing
From something fungal

Two years on tour
Mostly spent in Hell
Charred rotting bodies
Never liked the smell

Waking up in puddles
Sweating night and day
Always dreaming of home
And the day I went away

I left her standing alone
Crying at the terminal
I'd given her assurance
My absence would be minimal

Spent seven months in a ward
Purple heart on my pillow
Finally made it back home
And found out I was winnowed

Some dope smoking hippie creep
Had already taken my place
My heart cratered, imploded
Hands clenched, beating his face

Found a place to stay
Under the highway bridge
Made myself a new home
Inside an abandoned fridge

Sometimes the leftovers
Are quite delectable
The bottom of a rusty dumpster
Has food almost edible

Some day I hope to see her
Once again before I die
And give her my purple heart
Point first in the eye

When my time is finally passed
Bury me with my brethren on the hill
Clean me up and dress me down
Flag draped casket will suit me well