Thank You for Serving

I saw you walk up to the vacant lot
With the
Still
Standing
Fence
Where you looked
Longingly
Wearing bvds
And a leather bomber jacket
And I just want you to know
Thank you for serving

Unlike the majority of clueless
Vultures
Who say this to you
I Understand

There is no home to go back to
You wake up
Cold
Aching
Every
Time
Your head
Gets the strength
To pull
Your
Body
Off the stone benches
In front of a memorial
Thanking your friends
Possibly even loved ones
For
Not
Making
It
Back

You may find this statement cold
Painful
And stingy
And I am sorry
But the truth hurts
And
By the way
Thank you
For serving

You have no standard issue pack
So I'm guessing
Someone snatched it
Most likely at the Greyhound
Or there was nothing
To put back in it
By the way
Thank you
For serving

You probably stare
Blankly
Doing your best
To stay
Calm
And
Present
Not daring to blink
Your waiting list for that
Chrome
.45
You saw
Tempting you
About
Fifteen miles back
Is probably
Three
Months
Shorter
Than the waiting list
To see your
Head
Shrinker
At the
Veterans
Affairs
But I wish to reiterate
Thank you
For serving

I think about my brother
Staring at the ceiling
Trying not to scream
Classified events
Playing
Like a burning
9mm
Over
And
Over
I want to repeat
Thank you
For serving

So
I want to apologise
On behalf of
The
Country
You served
And
Meaningfully
Thank you
For serving