The Old War Hero Jim

His ill fitting shoes have left him with blistered feet
The homeless old fellow slowly shuffling down the street
With long gray beard and straggly hair of gray
His battle is to survive from day to day

The children like to taunt him call him silly old Jim
Though their unsolicited for attention does not seem for to bother him
Of their youthful rudeness he is not in need
But he just simply ignores them and to them pay no heed

When you are financially down you know who your friends are does seem true to say
And he does not seem to have one friend today
Old Jim reached a life's milestone of eight decades in May
Years ago he came home a hero from a war far away

One of the homeless forgotten of the town
In life he lost his way due to a mental breakdown
Life can be so hard on homeless old people like Jim
It can be said war has left it's mark on him

Due to bad war experiences a mental breakdown the ruination of his life
He does not have children or never had a wife
The taunts of school chidren he pretends not to hear
Long before their parents were born he was one without fear

His medals for bravery stolen from him or lost
His bad experiences in war to him came at a huge mental cost
He displayed true courage where heroes are made
But he will never more march in a war parade.