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INVISIBLE SCARS
Over there I have done terrible things
that keep sleep from my night,
things that you would curse me for
and ban me from your sight.
Over there my blood lust took control,
an inner Grendel showed its face
and I became less than human
deserving no one's grace.
Over there I wrought murder and mayhem
screaming out a primal rage
among body parts strewn haphazardly
as jumbled words on Satan's page.
I look into a mirror over here
but still see what I had become
by waging war while over there.
What I saw and did still leaves me numb.
Better the carnage over there;
better I were a monster over there
than have to be one over here.
Too many times I start awake
drenched in cold sweat
thinking I am still
over there
Style / type:
Free verse
Review Request (Intensity):
I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back
Last few words:
Once a year on this day we pause to remember those who died to give us freedom......perhaps we should also remember those who returned but still aren't the same as when they left.
Editing stage:
Content level:
Explicit Content
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Comments
Roscoe Lane
Tue, 2021-06-01 01:45
I wonder,
I wonder how many have the same feelings, but can't put them into words as good as you. If only this poem could be more widespread, i believe it would help a lot of people, Regards Roscoe...
Roscoe Llane,
Religion will rip your faith off, and return
for the mask of disbelief that's left.
scribbler
Tue, 2021-06-01 10:22
Hi Roscoe
Thank you for your supportive words
author commentGracy
Tue, 2021-06-01 17:18
A sad but much needed poem.
A sad but much needed poem. Are you referring to WWII? I expect so, but I lost several relatives in WWI, which was devastating, followed by the Spanish flu.
PTSD (is that correct?) is a terrible thing, it can last for decades, never go away. I hope that's not something you're suffering.
As usual, your rhyming, wording and spacing are all perfect. No nits.
"Lest we forget".
Gracy
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"My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies; fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die, I can fly, my friends.” – Freddie Mercury
scribbler
Tue, 2021-06-01 23:24
Hi Gracy
No, this was meant to be applicable to any war including the ones being wound down now. And I am fortunate. The year I would have been drafted to go to Vietnam they actually stopped the draft. I was classified !-H which meant I would be drafted first if it cranked back up. But I have known people who fought in WW2 and every conflict since then and think none of them returned without nightmares of what they did and/or saw done.........
author comment