by Cpl. Robert L. Cook
Jan. 1942~Sept. 1945
I've hung around
This old world
For a great number
Of years.
I have seen some
Good times
And some that
Brought me tears.
Just an ordinary guy
With the usual gripes
And groans:
The government,
The taxes,
And the young'uns
Make me moan.
I can see a lot things
That are so very wrong,
I try to look for all
The things that
Make out country strong.
It ain't easy.
Each day I read
The paper
And reflect upon
The news.
Each day I see
Another place
Where someone
Breaks the rules.
It seems that
Chasing money
Is the only
Thing to do,
No matter how
You get it,
It's all up to you.
We use to think
That criminals
Were poor and
Had no hope.
But now we know
That ain't the truth,
We’ve had
to look around and
Take a wider scope.
They also come from
Higher ups
At the top of the tree,
The ones that have
A lot more
Than you and me.
If you have
A million bucks
Or maybe even more,
You have to get
Another one
To even up the score.
The morals of a
Yesteryear
Have faded
To the past.
They knew that
Truth and honesty
Were meant to last
And last.
So,
Please don’t tell me
Of the glory
Of the times:
The Internet,
Cell phones,
And that kind of
Trash.
It don't mean
A damn thing
If you ain't got
Peace of mind. . .
And a healthy stash.
* * *
About the author: Robert Cook served with Reg. Weapons Co.(2d-2d) from 1942~44, at Guadalcanal
and Tarawa, during a 33-month overseas tour.
