Combat Veteran
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No horror.
No horror?
I feel no horror.
No fear nor disgust.
Wasn't this red, dripping paste
A rational person
A distant friend
A battle-buddy
an hour ago?
Canned latte, water, fruit punch Rip-It
Gulp it, down it, chug it, sip it
In the gunner's sling, sway side to side
240B in the cradle, M4 right side
Talk of sex
Talk of food
It's all allowed
In a moment of pique, I near spoke too much,Then silence took over—I erased it as such.Polite words rewrote what was almost said.Who was I to speak of the dead?A wife recoiled from truths I gave.Do you wish to hearWhat vows of marriageWere too wea
This is war,
A cryptic whirlpool of souls and hurt
In which we have no friend but earth.
Earth! Earth! Earth!
By Alexander Thymmons
July 4th, 2007
(then, a rifle platoon leader in the First Stryker Brigade, Second “Arrowhead” Infantry Division)
On Patrol during the Surge
“Have you ever been abused?”
My therapist asks me this not knowing that one word commanded my attention
Abused?
I replay my favorite scene of Pretty Woman in my head
