In a Way I Did

[couchgrouch]

In a Way I DidI was scared to ask what mama didto feed and clothe us two kidsalthough I was strong and bigpoor Jose was sickly and anemicour building shoulda been condemnedrats chewed the pipes but rust can't hurt themand Vietnam was the best way back thento escape the barrios of Phoenixand while patroling Que CityI saw children hungry and alonemy heart filled with fear and pityand I wished I could've stayed homeand in a way I didsomewhere in back of my mindwhere men keep things hidwhen what's ahead is what's behindyeah, life likes to play gamessome things stay the sameso in a way I didI useta get some R and Rgrab a jeep and hit this enlisted barthere was a girl who danced and threw dartsand was ev'ry lonely GI's lovershe was the one good thing from Vietnamthe night Sarge gave me that telegramshe wiped my tears with a trembling handas if Jose was her own brotherthen fighting an enemy battalionmy leg got a cane my heart got a crutchI only kicked the saki and valiumcos I almost felt her soothing touchand in a way I didsomewhere in back of my mindwhere men keep things hidwhen what's ahead is what's behindthe mind needs to play gamesto keep itself saneso in a way I didnow kids splash outside in a spraying hydrantbut all I hear is whispers of that whoreinstead of still being a barrio migrantsometimes I wish I'd have died in that warand in a way I didin a way I did(c)2005 Robert George