I saw him alone, amidst the smoke and beers,
With others around giving insults and jeers.
His hair was trimmed, a nice high and tight,
And a look about him, just something not right.
His face was shaved, his eyes were sad,
He kept his calm, though the shouting was bad.

Threats were made, and taunts were cast,
I didn't know how his temper could last.
After an hour, he finally stood,
I knew he could fight, I was sure that he would.
His eyes had grown soft, his face was turned down,
And his body relaxed as he just looked around.

"Why do you hate me, just what have I done?
Why make me fight, or force me to run?
Do I look like I'm weak? Is that what you think?
Is that the reason why you push to the brink?
Just tell me the truth, what is it you hate?
Just why do you taunt me, why make this mistake?"

One man stood up with a sickening grin,
And waved to the crowed, this fight he would win.
"You think your so big, you think your so tough,
But I know what your like, you run when its rough.
Get out of our bar, we don't want you here."
But his eyes were not hard, instead, filled with fear.

The man I was watching just shook his head slow,
He turned towards the door and he started to go,
But he turned back to the crowd, his eyes filled with pain,
Tears ran down his cheeks, falling almost like rain.
He spoke slowly and calm, his words were so soft.
He hesitated but once, as someone muffled a cough.

"You want me to fight, is that what you want?
Is that the reason that you shout and you taunt?
Let me say this, and maybe we'll fight,
Or maybe I'll go, and sleep off this night.
Who here has served, and tell me the truth?
I wont even ask you to show me some proof.

Who knows what its like, when a loved ones away,
When we go to fight, for a year, or a day?
I went to a war that I didn't start,
But I fought and I cried, and it tore me apart.
My kids and my wife stayed home when I left,
Would I ever come home? They couldn't have guessed.

My friends are all gone, they all died in Iraq,
They protected your freedom when we were attacked.
My son was in tears when I said goodbye,
His daddy was leaving, but he didn't know why.
I couldn't explain then why I must leave,
I wiped MY tears away with the cuff of my sleeve.

I fought for YOUR freedom, I fought for YOUR rights.
I am the reason for your safety at night.
But you still want to fight me, to slake your own lust,
I will not fight you , I only fight when I must.
I will not fight you, for reasons unseen,
I guess I should tell you, because I'm a Marine.

I stand for something that you take for granted,
I fight for the farms in the spring when they're planted.
I fight for your right to push me around,
I fight for your freedom, with terrorism abound.
I don't fight for MY freedom, I gave it away,
So you can sleep soundly, with a safe place to stay.

I don't fight for money, I don't fight for pride.
I never run away, for there's no place to hide.
I stand alone or with my brother's in arms,
So you have something to keep you from harm.
If we were both wounded, my blood will flow green,
But yours will flow red, because you're NOT a Marine.
Burtan S. Lafleur
October, 2006