No matter what
life throws at you the main
thing that you have to do
is just keep on living despite.

Things come at me everyday
thanks to combat in a far away war
that took place so many years ago
but guess what?

I am here to stay
and to help matters I write about it
in a poem to honor those
who didn't make it home
and to those who still
feel so alone.

Hurt and pain from lost loves
pry at my brain every waking minute
so I just decided that
I must keep on living despite
because there really is
no other way.

So many people will try
to break you with their lies
and mind games but once you
get past the pain and hurt
with them you break all ties.

I don't know if I can ever
love again because my trust
grows so  thin but love
always seems to find a way
and maybe next time
love will stay.

But you need to know
that I will just keep living
for another day despite what
others have to say.

It is never too late
to be whoever you want to be
so know that you can change
or stay the same in this
crazy game of life despite
what is happening to you
at the present and me I just sit here
trying to find a rhyme.

Find the strength to start again
but just keep on living despite
and know that the only person
that you are destined to be
is the person that you
decide to be.                       Jon York                  2012