Soldier poem that starts like this: I have a friend, oh such a friend, he has no home you see. And Mom, I wo

Question

Anonymous author. No title

Answer 1

"DEAR MOM

The war is over now
My task is finally through,
But Mom there is something
I must ask of you.

I have a friend, oh what a friend
He has no home you see,
So Mom I would like
To bring him home with me.

If someone comes home with you,
I'm sure that he could stay
For a day or two.

Please Mom, I have to tell you something
Please don't be alarmed,
My friend, you see in battle
Happen to lose one arm.

My son, don't be afraid
To bring him home with you,
He could stay and visit
For even a week or two.

But Mom, he's not just a friend
He's a brother too,
That's why I want him to live with us
And be a son to you.

But...before you give me answer
There's something I must say,
My friend fought in a battle
In which he lost a leg.

My son, it hurts me to say this
But my answer must be no,
Your father and I would have no time
For one who is crippled so.

Sometime later a letter came
Saying their son was dead,
And when they read the cause of death
"Suicide" it said.

Sometime later when the casket came
Wrapped with the country flag,
They saw their son lying there
With out an arm or leg."

Answer 2

It is a German soldier's poem. I am embarassed that I do not know it. "Ich hat eine kamaraden..." Perhaps someone else can fill that in, then award the person 10 points.

P.S.: Since I posted my answer, gormenghast, a far wiser person than I, has posted the whole poem in English. You must award her 10 points. She is a great person and a great scholar.