Blind man

tap tap taping
taping down the street
tapping at the kerb
tapping at the feet
tapping as people move
not standing in the way
tapping in shadows of black
and moving shades of grey

tapping hits a bottle
tapping hits a head
tapping hits a body
lying like it's dead
are you all right he softly says
to the drunken misery
of all the sighted people
only the blind can see

he feels the sob of misery
the shudder of despair
the nights of cold open slumber
no body seems to care
the tapping hits a metal orb
tapper senses the rebound
a medal in the pocket
the tapper knows the sound

was it the gulf war or Iraq
that earned that mournful sound
with comrades for protection
all in honour bound
"the Gulf" the drunk muttered
raising bottle to give a cheer
this is the land for hero's
the drunkard did sneer

the tapper said it was Iraq
that took away his sight
it took away my dignity
it took away my right
it took away the innocence
of why we had to fight
now my life is different
I can not read or write

they both shared the bottle
as true comrades do
they toasted their suffering
thank god I'm not like you