Mark I. Kirkmeyer

SHADOW OF THE MAN

He was once a burley man
That was before Cua Lanh
When he thought life was level
Before he danced with the Devil
Now he’s a Shadow of the Man

He was a fearless young superman
High School hero turned infantryman
He learned to respect fear
And even to shed a tear
Now he’s a Shadow of the Man

He was happy with his woman
The war behind and him in command
Except in the sleepless night
A battle he still had to fight
Now he’s a Shadow of the Man

In a hospital bed with trembling hand
O2 bottle and walker to stand
Eating his insides knowing the cause
The tools of the war that was
Now he’s a Shadow of the Man.

©Copyright October 7, 2003 by Mark I. Kirkmeyer

Submitted for the October 2003 IWVPA Club Theme Project, “Shadows”