Joel T. Bailey

THE LONG ROAD BACK

He sat alone in his living room
With a drink in his hand
He’d just returned from a second tour
In Iraq and Afghanistan

He was trying to drown out the sounds
Of guns and wounded men
But the whiskey didn’t dull the memories
Of the hell he’d been in

Then he remembered what his Dad has said
When he was with Uncle Sam
And the things he’d seen and done
While fighting in Vietnam

How he’d turned to drink and drugs
But realized it was wrong
For his family depended on him
And he needed to be strong

He dropped his drink and knelt on his knees
And said: God help me go on
I need for you to give me the strength
Because I can’t make it alone

Then his wife and kids were there by him
And their love he’d never lack
And with their help and God’s he’d make it
On the long road back