Dole Coat

They made them wear
their coats of pride,
dyed as mark of "shame",
symbol of
outstretched hand
of poverty and loss.

Worn on fields of death,
splattered with courage's blood
and hardship's grime,
a badge of honour
dragged through the mud
of bitter grudging charity.

Returned men during
dark depression days
pulled them close
to fight the chill of short
memories and graceless aid.
They were cut from a different cloth.
Bill Anderson

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