皇家海軍陸戰隊詩選 Forgotten Hero

Forgotten Hero...
Who is that guy I asked myself,
Who is this old time vet,
Sitting on the seafront bench,
Trying to light an old cigarette.
I wondered where he had gotten it,
For the shape was not so round,
And so I whispered to myself,
Perhaps he found it on the ground.
Being curious like I always seem,
I wanted to find out more,
because I am too a former Royal Marine,
Stories are what I'm looking for.
So I walked over to this guy,
And asked, "Mind if I sit down"?
He said "Please do, I wish you would,
Because no-one ever comes around".
I asked to see just what it was,
that he was holding in his hands,
He said "just a couple old medals,
Something I hope you'll understand".
I've been a trying to sell them all,
So I can get a bite to eat,
But folks say no, they're not worth that much,
Your medals are antiques.
I gave the old guy a twenty note,
As I got up from the bench to leave,
And I said "you keep your medals mate,
You've earned them I do believe."
A day or so later I picked up a newspaper,
And was reading an article which sadly said,
A man was found on Brighton seafront bench,
And this poor old guy was dead.
No one seems to have known him,
Since he was homeless, no family, or friends,
Just a couple of old war medals,
Which he clutched tightly in his hands.
A Falklands, NI and a Long Service one,
Tells us that he gave his best,
and now one more "Forgotten Hero",
Is being laid to rest.
David Lilburn.