I have no stories to tell you
Nor victories to recall
No pictures of my daring deeds
Or accolades on my wall
But after serving 39 years and more
I fight most every night
With the battles that go on in my head
That gives me sleepless nights

Being part of the big Green Machine
With Comrades all around
Knowing that someone’s always there
If answers cant be found
I miss these times so very much with each breath I take
And every night when the battle starts I lay there wide awake

The life I lead is wonderful
with loved ones all around
But there are times when I feel alone with people all around
I try to overcome these thoughts with humour and a drink
But mostly this just makes me worse and my moral slowly sinks

It’s lonely being a veteran, with no comrades all around
No one to laugh and joke with, no familiar military sounds
But we were taught to mask our feelings, and to soldier on
No one likes a SSAFA case, pick up your kit, crack on

The days, the weeks, the months go by, and time just gathers pace.
But I cant help just wishing I was back in my Happy Place
Those days are long gone now, and comrades have moved on
And I just sit and reminisce, when this old warrior was strong.