Reflections of a Boomer

FORGOTTEN

by David Palethorpe

Politicians made decree,
But none would heed humanity.
War declared—it had to be,
No other choice if “to be free.”

Broken soldiers home return
To families left to weep and mourn.
No compassion waits from society,
That sent them to war “to be free.”

While guns still roar and cannons thunder,
Politicians will not name their blunder.
The trail of blood, of shattered men,
Hailed as heroes once again.

But praise is fleeting, quickly gone,
Forgotten by the very ones
For whom they fought, for whom they bled,
For freedom—while their own lives shred.