The Worker and the Vet

He drinks every drop to make the memories stop
but all that is does is keep them strong.

He’s been too many times to that one place in time
The place we call Vietnam

he sits on the corner as those all around him
start laughing and making fun of him..

“look at that bum the clothes he wears
the bottle he carries my isn’t he scary?”

they all turn to laugh when all that he asks
is for a dollar to eat something sweet
anything is a treat.

soon they retreat throwing garbage at his feet.

*********

he lays in an alley dreaming of dear sally
the woman he loved before he left for Vietnam.

she left him alone when he got called home
she left him alone to marry good ole joe.

he knew of the child that she had carried
but she never wanted her to meet her real daddy.

he clings to the bottle his only retreat
when suddenly a stranger asks him to his feet.

“not another cop those damn government jerks.”
the man thinks as he gathers his worth.

soon he sees that it’s not the police but someone
so sweet.

caring and kind her voice like an angel
is it that time already?

she wraps him in a blanket she takes his old shoes
she gives him some hot chocolate to warm his cold toes.

he reads her tag salvation army and with a tear in his eye
he asks her who is she?

*********

“I’m just a woman one who knows
that those in need are deserving as me.

i see you there laying in the street
and thought that today was my calling.

i gathered my things and put on my uniform
but skipped the salvation army because i felt
you were more worthy.

i see you all the time clinging to the bottle
i thought to myself one day that will be his last swallow.
so i took my cell phone and turned it into the boss
said i quit this job and i have no remorse.

i kept the uniform but only for a while
I’ll take it back tomorrow to show him that it’s final.”

he listened to her words of her family and friends
who took her for all her worth and that job was her last chance.

*********

he took her hand said in voice high

“my child don’t quit for you have made me rich!
you showed me there are others who care
and now i know that there is a god up there.

he sent you to me and you did his deed
stay with the salvation army as there are others just as needy!”

she took to his words and on Christmas day
she went back to work to the place where
the homeless stay.

she felt so new so very alive
that she never thought that the news would arrive.

she watched it on tv it was a very tearful scene
for the man that she gave to had met up with family.

his daughter had searched many years and days
for the one she knew had always been her real daddy.
she went to work walking through the very same alley.

she had seen that picture laying of her mother sally.

the old man had dropped it without even knowing
and she picked it up the tears started flowing.

when she met the man she walked up to him
and felt all the more rich.

*********

they stared at each other and she said “it’s you you’re my father!”

he looked her over and saw it in her face.
she had his eyes nose and chin, it was his daughter Mary Anne

the story goes on but this is what i want you to know
no matter who you are no matter where you go.

god is watching and he always knows.

when it is time he gives you the urge
to help those needy so heed that call.
and remember this:

you might meet someone you’ll never forget.

Danielle N Calhoun
© December 9, 2002
SugarSugar-Thanks, I had been offered that same suggestion when I wrote it.

and

SilverFantasy, Thank you so much! I’ve been published, actually, in a book in Australia by a dear friend. You can see his work as well as my own and that of others here: http://iwvpa.net and the books that I am published in is called Who Will Cry for the Soldiers, Tears from Distant Wars
Thank you, RileyGirl, and you’re welcome, also.