Rat-a-tat-tat-tat

Splattering rain echoes

Vibrating metal roof

Tin machine gun coughs

An endless spray

Of liquid bullets

 

Rat-a-tat-tat-tat

Swirling thoughts

Run through my mind

The trance like state

I’m lulled into

Forgets my surroundings

 

Rat-a-tat-tat-tat

Yelling and screaming

Opens my eye

Machine gun in hand

I squeeze the trigger

And hear a returning

 

Rat-a-tat-tat-tat

The enemy subsides

Dreamily I’m aware

This is not home

No metallic roof or rain

But another day of war

 

Authors Note:

This scenario is a reality for to many of our young men and women in uniform.