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The Vet

The Vet

Look, there he goes again, that dumb vet,
down the road to get drunk again I bet.
Wonder why he does it, day after day?
How can he go on living in this way?
Ive heard he had a pretty good life,
even had a family, two kids and a wife.
They ended up leaving him; they'd had enough,
of all his drinking, rages and stuff.
Yet down at the pub, he is always so quiet,
Drinks all alone never causing a riot.
He keeps pretty much to himself, never has much to say,
It seems he is just existing, living from day to day.
I havent seen that vet lately, its been a few days;
maybe he is sleeping it off in an alcoholic haze.
     ------------------------------
I heard that vet is dead, he blew himself away,
Now the town is full of vets, his funeral is today.
At the pub after his funeral, they told me his story.
And the story they told me wasn't just another warrie.
It seems he was a hero, saved others in a real tight spot,
not a thought for himself, though the situation was hot.
He managed to save them all, except his best mate,
they said by the time he got to him, it was too late.
They said he never got over it and pulled right into his shell,
And ever since then, he has been living a life of pure hell.
I wish Id gotten to know him he sounded like a decent bloke,
but I was too busy with my life and so we never spoke.
Now I know the truth, Ill never turn my back on another vet,
I want to say I'm truly sorry and I will, the first chance I
get.

ŠLee ONeill
February 2001


In memory of Phil Dundas and all other vets who found their pain
too much to bear.