So Great a Price We had to Pay

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This poem appears in the 2018 Spring issue of Veteran’s Voices, page 27

By Tom Reilly, Sgt. U.S. Army, Vietnam 1969-70

We said good-bye, I left for war,
We pledged too much to hump that far.
Come back the boy you are today.
I hope I can, all I could say.
Will you be here when I return?
I will be here, have no concern.

So much occurred while I was there,
Some good, some bad, a lot to bear.
My tour was done, after one year,
I came back home—there was no here.
No girl, no youth, innocence spent—
The price we paid when we were sent.

I see her face at night these days,
Through mem’ry’s eyes and dreamy haze.
They come and go, these dreams of mine,
Of days gone by and love’s sweet wine.
It hurt to see her face this night,
Familiar pain, familiar sight.

If I could choose my dreams this day,
I’d choose a youth that slipped away.
With eyes closed tight to hold my dreams,
I’d search for innocence it seems.
I wake from dreams I wish would stay,
So great a price we had to pay.

By Tom Reilly, Sergeant US Army, Vietnam 1969-70
author of Hope in The Shadows of War

#poetryofwarseries

Author: Tom

Business owner, professional speaker, author, and salesman . . . Since 1981, Tom has traveled globally sharing his content-rich message of hope. Tom literally wrote the book on Value-Added Selling. Tom has a B.A. in Psychology from St. Louis University and an M.A. in Psychology from University of Missouri in St. Louis with a special emphasis in work motivation theory. He spent four years in the United States Army where he honed his leadership skills as a Drill Sergeant. Tom is a prolific writer and researcher. He is a recipient of the Northeast Business Editors Silver Award; author of fifteen books; and editorial contributor to several magazines. Tom is an avid golfer, Harley-Davidson rider, and fountain pen collector. Please click here for Tom’s complete bio.

4 thoughts on “So Great a Price We had to Pay”

  1. Tom,
    I read the 1st chapter of your book and think it’s great. Want to read more. Please send me the ARC. I didn’t know you were a poet too! Like the poem So Great a Price We had to Pay, and the video. Only heard the video, but you sounded great, and the poem was a great depiction of JB. I could see it in my minds eye as I listened to you.

  3. An awesome poem with an awesome message. Brought back many memories and old feelings. Thank you for sharing.

  4. Leonard, thanks for your comment. All of the vet related things I write I try to speak for as many of my brothers and sisters as I can.

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