Veteran

Today he was gone

The room was empty

Devoid of the young veteran

Sitting at the table

Lap top humming

Working

On something

Perhaps a paper

A resume

Earnest in demeanor

Serious

Accomplishing his task

But today he was gone

That quite handsome

Busy young man

Very young

Too young

A veteran

Of what

Iraq

Afghanistan 

Comrades dead

IEDs

Snipers

Friendly fire

But today he was gone

Hopefully not dead

Yet

Perhaps called up again

Another tour

A trip to exotica abroad

Maybe this time safely to Germany or Japan

Or probably he just finished his paper

©kcasady2014