Bullfrog's Blues
by Michael Doyle

It seems Bullfrog doesn't like sweltering heat,
But he liked less, his man facedown on the street.
The weight of decisions bringing life and death
Often takes away even a tough man's breath. 

To hide his tears, he feigned a fit of coughing
As he looked down on the eight-wheeled coffin.
Knowing that despite all the lessons taught and learned
His man had an early death that he had not earned.

The best die hard, so hard
Down to the last drawn card
The rest of us are left to live
With a guilt that's hard to forgive. 

He had joked that his friend chose a bad time for love
As they had received orders to jump in from above. 
His friend had invited him to be his best man.
And of course, he answered yes in a humorless deadpan.

A twist of a turn and then the wrong bird had flown.
How could the Bullfrog have guessed or even known,
His best friend would never get to grow old
As his body was laying in the casket colder than cold.

The best die-hard, so hard
Down to the last drawn card
The rest of us are left to live
With a guilt that's hard to forgive. 

They said there is no truer than to lay down their life
For another, how do you explain this to a proposed wife?
He had promised to take care of his good friend
How was he to know how this day's adventure would end?

Flag-draped coffins are filled with tragic loss.
The Bullfrog prayed making the sign of the cross.
His grieving heart would never again be whole.
The loss of his man would be etched deep on his soul.

The best die-hard, so hard
Down to the last drawn card
The rest of us are left to live
With a guilt that's hard to forgive. 

Taps on the hillside slides into sorrow.
Someone's love wouldn't know tomorrow.
Overthinking doesn't return the dead to life.
And it would not make the friend's lady into a wife.

Thirteen Folds told the story of the presented flag.
But falling tears streamed down and did not lag.
The stars are revealed as to God whom we faithfully trust,
Especially, at those times when we truly must

The best die-hard, so hard
Down to the last drawn card
The rest of us are left to live
With a guilt that's hard to forgive. 

(c) May 26, 2025  Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved

Dedicated to Admiral McRaven and all special
operators who defend our nation.