It was white, like snow, like linen sheets
Drying
             in
                  the
                         wind
It had silver buckles, like cutlery, that was only used
at Christmas
                       at Thanksgiving,
                                                   ­   but it was made to wear,
It had extra-long sleeves that tied in the back
for
       his
            own
                    protection,
Not from the rain drops
That tasted like tear drops
Not from the housekeepers
Barely five feet tall, a hundred pounds
if that at all...

With out his arms to salute,
He would not walk away,
He was a soldier, and this was now his Dress of the Day,
A good soldier was always
prepared to salute, now
he wasn't able.