THE ONES WE LEFT BEHIND




By Gary Freeman

EACH NEW DAY AT THE BREAK OF DAWN
THESE THOUGHTS INVADE MY MIND
WHY DO I STILL FEEL GUILTY
ABOUT THE ONES WE LEFT BEHIND

ARE THEY LIVING STILL, IN A BAMBOO CAGE
OR A PRISON DEEP IN THE WOODS
ARE THEY WAITING STILL FOR OUR RETURN
WOULD WE RESCUE THEM IF WE COULD

WHY CAN’T I PUT THE PAST TO REST
IT WAS SO MANY YEARS AGO
I’M JUST ONE MAN, I TELL MYSELF
THEIR FATE I MAY NEVER KNOW

AM I GUILTY FOR SURVIVING
SHOULD I HAVE STAYED BEHIND
DID WE LEAVE TOO SOON, SHOULD BE RETURN
CAN WE TRY IT ONE MORE TIME

I GUESS I’LL FOREVER PONDER
THESE THOUGHTS TIME AFTER TIME
AND WONDER ALWAYS, WHAT WAS THE FATE
OF THE ONES WE LEFT BEHIND

GARY FREEMAN
SGT, U.S. ARMY
VIETNAM 1971-72

© 2002


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