My old friend was an airman
Back in dub-yuh dub-yuh two.He was the last survivor ofHis ten-man bomber crew.
I saw him in his final yearsA day or two each week.His stories of the war--they allTransfixed me so to speak.
For years I noted what he saidThen typed the notes I took.And then I gave him all his war-
time memories in a book.
He asked if we could publish it,But could he add some more?I said of course, just make it tellThe way you saw the war.
He made corrections, added moreAnd read the book again.He went through several legal pads;His vision wearing thin.
I said we'd better hurry soThe world can read your tales.He said there is no deadline, andIf it's not right, it fails.
I told him he was ninety-six,And I was eight-two.Our age may be our deadline, but
I'll work it 'till you're through.
He read and wrote and added more,I printed twenty drafts,In March of 2020, heSaid (Finally!) "It's a wrap!"
To celebrate, we spent the dayAt Jose's drinking tea.We didn't talk about the book,We joked that we were free!
All talk about the war was done.The book was sealed and gone.Now we could speak of other thingsUnmentioned for so long.
-----And then I got a tragic shockHe mentioned news he'd heardHe quoted Trump, the presidentA lie in every word.
I asked him if he checked that out.Those things he said aren't true."Have you considered what Trump saidAnd checked it through and through?"
He seemed surprised that I would doubtWhat Donald Trump had said."The man's a party leader, fa-ther, corporation head."
"Yes, Trump's the only voice I hear,"He muttered with a sigh."I guess I don't check all the news,But wait--why would he lie?"
"Why would he lie?" Did he say that?
He really doesn't know?
About Trump's lies to boost himself
And spread the doubts lies sow?
Trump had the bit of fame he got
From being on TV
And thought that he could change the world
To what he chose to see.
He thought his quick solutions couldFix all the nation's flaws
But being overwhelmed he turned
To lies a bending laws.
And, when a leader leads with lies.
The folks with narrow viewsAre want to spread those horrid liesAs right and useful news.
I showed him that Trump's acts and thoughts
Fit Hitler to a "T."
He said, "No, Trump is not that way
Just wait and you will see."
-----
But then on January 6th
Reality appeared
Trump spoke as if he knew it all and
And as such should be feared.
Trump was above the laws and courts
And constitution too.
A world of crooks had turned on him
But he was pure and true.
Then Trump the president said words
That only come from fools
When felt I'm wronged then I can "go
by very different rules."
"Oh, no!" my friend said. "Laws and courts
Define our rules, not you!
Without those things the nation fails
No matter what we do."
That's when my good friend pressed the mute
And mulled what Trump had said
My friend fought hard to save the things
That now to Trump were dead.
My friend and his friends went to war,
And many gave their lives
To stop a childish, hating man
Who built a war on lies.
All those who funded Hitler would
Have shunned him if they knew
The damage that as leaders use-
Ful idiots can do.
My friend had fought a tragic war
To stop a mortal sin.Where liars lead folks straight to hellThen smirk as we walk in.
We all assume that leaders wishThe best for those they lead,And strive to do the best they canFor what the people need.
The gain of lying leaders is-n't mine and yours but his.Although Trump's lies may seem just wordsThey're also what he is.
Must those who donned their battle gear
And won the war they fought
Have leaders now that trade in lies
Like none of us were taught?
The nation my friend served well now
is stymied by a bump.
The devil walks among us, and
His name is Donald Trump.
