You see me
© 2025 by Walter Reimer
Thumbnail art by Bernard Partridge

You see me approaching
You cross the road
You try not to see me
You avoid eye contact
But I see you
And I hear what your voiceless gaze says

If you knew
You would say
“Thank you for your service”
Or some other
Empty platitude
Said by rote or reflex

You say “Poor person”
You say “Get a job”
You say “Go somewhere else”
But you do not know
You will never know
Because you don’t want to know

I was like you once
Until I put on the uniform
Until I served
Until I went forth to battle
And came back
With scars you cannot see

I served
I fought your battles for you
I was not a sucker
I was not a loser
I enlisted with promises made
But promises weren’t enough

You see me
Don’t walk away
Don’t cross the road
Don’t thank me
Reach out instead
And see if you can help