A Funeral For The Great Babe Ruth

It took better men fewer years to find an alter 

or peace in their repentance for the wicked they had done

I watched brothers die, others fall and courage falter

but today we came home heroes, 

scarred by what we'd overcome 

And there was you, 

smiling like you used to

before the war tore us wild, innocent children into men 

As we passed, I looked back 

as you waved, I smiled once again 

because you looked just like you did when we were kids 

back then, so many years ago 

Soon the banners fell and were put away in boxes 

and the heroes were forgotten and no different than the cowards

I went back to that job on an assembly line in Boston 

putting smiling heads on dolls for less than spit and piss an hour 

But there were times I thought about the life we knew before today 

when I bought that tiny ring to make you smile 

As I collapsed, I focused on the memories of better days 

Through the panic I felt more peace than I'd felt in awhile 

knowing you were still around 

There came bills for miles

piled higher than the gun towers;

except these were far more likely now to bring me to my knees 

Still no one knew my name, for I'm a long forgotten soldier, 

who could never throw a ball so nobody remembered me 

But there were crowds lining up the streets 

to watch the hearse drive by 

thanking Babe Ruth for the way he saved their sons

As we watched, I felt you place your ever faithful hand in mine 

as if to say my war was almost won

like you'd always done before 

On the night I passed from all this 

not a head was hung in sorrow

not a hand held mine, while fighting tears, but yours

like you'd always done before