Here he stands, now
Tall as he can be, a hand gripping mine

My eyes water as the band starts marching to the Last Post,
His back straightens, head raised

I see him, as he was then
My mind’s eye has him standing there in uniform, medals glinting in the winter sun

That he fought for us,
That he has lost so much, makes my heart hurt

The pride I feel just from standing in his shadow is immense,
My hero.