We were wounded. we died;
Now it is trouble is all that we got.

Once we fought on the battleground,
Now we fight the battle at home.
We sleep on sidewalks, cardboard
For sheets, pillows of newspaper domes.

Stuff that we gathered we carry for trade.

Once we got free cigarettes,
Now we scramble for butts on the ground…
This is the booty of freedom we’ve found.

The contract is broken, our faith tossed aside;
We agreed to fight for you, for our nation’s pride,
You agreed to “hold and to keep” us in times of peace.

But here we all are, no tent for our keep,
Only lonely old sidewalks and eyes that peep
As we straggle along, no longer in step,
No pride and no hope and broken hard sleep.
Oh, king and country, we stood on guard for thee…
Where now is your compassion for we
Who stood at arms and fired the gun?
When the enemy threatened, we did not run…
Once we were soldiers, who stood proud and tall.

Once we were soldiers, we stood so proud and so tall!
We marched into battle, our nerves did not rattle,
We stood up to barrages, we saw comrades fall,
We prevailed through skirmishes, we won that war’s battle…

Brother, can you spare me some time? I’d like to talk it all over,
Find me some peace for a while inside. I have these cold nightmares
Inside where I live, no house or no home, cardboard for a bed…
An hour, a meal, hot coffee and I’ll tell you my tale,
Just please, if you just give me some time.

Once we were soldiers, we marched with such pride,
We stood so tall, and you favoured us then;
Why have you forsaken your favourite sons?
You say you will help; we’re asking you, when?

—

I salute all veterans from all services this November 11, 2019.
Thank you all.

Inspiration for my poem, and its title, courtesy of Once We Were Soldiers, a charity organization in Coalville, United Kingdom, which is dedicated to serving homeless veterans.

They are at https://www.facebook.com/OWWSoldiers/

Only now, last week of October, 2019, some 75 years after the close of the Second World War, do we hear about a 35-unit village specifically for the homeless vets, in Calgary, soon to open.

And yet, the vets still don’t think they deserve it.

My sincere and loving thanks to my cousin Cecilia Parkinson for sending me the Once We Were Soldiers website.

We remember her grandfather, who fought in the First World War, and her father Wilfrid and his brother Dick, who fought in the Second World War.

I salute my Dad, Leslie Herbert Bryce, and two of his brothers, Ray and Alfred, who fought in the Second World War.

THANK YOU All Veterans.