Shuffling down the street trying to keep warm
The water was in his sock now, his boots had seen better days
As he had many moons ago when bristling with pride and youth
Now hunched against a railway bridge his collar chaffed his neck
Smiling down at him a political poster promising him a future
Laughing he coughed up phlegm and spat it at the face
Trying to stand pain shot up his spine
His mind propeled back in time
Top cover in Basra a road side bomb `BANG` it all went black
Rain lashed the veteran`s face as he limped into the emptiness
Looking back at the phlegm he giggled like he did in the block
"Shot Over," "Splash Over" he was happy for a while.
© Tony McNally