don't bother coming to my funeral
with fake tears
running down your hypocritical face -

you say that
i am a hero .  i did nothing that
my brothers
or sisters wouldn't have done - and still do :
it's like this :
when you asked us to serve our nation , we
responded ;
we have looked into the face of terror ;
we felt the
scorching heat of battle pass overhead ;
we tasted
fear on the backs of our tongue every day 
and cried when
we buried our friends who were once strangers .

i am dead :
nothing you can say or do will change that .
but you can
do something for my brothers and sisters -
if you want
to do something to remember my name ,
don't forget
those that came home when they need you most -
they answered
the call when you needed their assistance .
it's only right
you provide them the care that they deserve .
don't honor
their memories with empty promises .

don't bother coming to my funeral
with fake tears
running down your hypocritical face -

(c) 2005, by Karla Dorman.