shortpig Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 Please be prepared for emotions. If you are having a really bad day put this on the back burner and do not read it! Wait for another day please. The Other Veteran Oh how proud I was when I signed up to serve Protect my country, I had such a nerve For some reason though unbeknownst to me I was not warned what my fate would be. I learned to march and be part of a team, They taught me pride, gave me self esteem. They gave me a gun taught me how to aim How to pull the Trigger again and again I felt big and strong all puffed up with pride Until that night and the horrifying ride Yes Sgt please take me back to the base He soon made it clear I was no longer safe When I finally arrived back on the base Beaten and bruised I felt so disgraced I prayed that someone would save my life Stand up for me and and help with my strife Soon I would learn that wasn’t the case I was left all alone in this strange lonely place There was no support for the wounded like me I was then told it was over, so just let it be It wasn’t over for the horror lives on It comes in waves at night and at dawn Now broken and battered and needing that team I’m no longer fit and lost all self esteem They no longer need me as a soldier they say So go pack your things and be on your way Far as we are concerned your life here is done Go back to your family, Hurry up now and run I have since learned after thirty years and more I’m not truly alone for I’ve met so many more So many of us who were used and abused Then thrown away while they kept the accused So many nightmares I cannot control Great fear of people and of the unknown Trigger now means sights, smells and sounds No longer aiming and shooting some rounds My days are now spent much different from most I live with my fears that are shared with a ghost Most spent in seclusion so afraid to come out Panic and fear is what my life is about I’m the Other Veteran with a war yet I can’t win Still fighting and losing the battle to him My body now old will shake out of control The pain and the ache are deep down in my soul Should you someday meet someone who suffers like me Remember their battle that no one can see It’s there big as life for them day after day Even when sleeping it won’t go away The Other Veteran JMS/Shortpig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoggie2 Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 Good poem, I served in a different place and time but the pain it the same...Yog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trailblazer Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 Very good poem shortpig. A dramatic experence in a veterans life never goes away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 outstanding poem. This should be published, especially in a book about PTSD/MST. I hope you don't mind if I post this at Vet Center where I attend group therapy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clw4514 Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 very moving! its as if u were in my head when u wrote that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharon Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 I feel your pain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purple Posted May 15, 2009 Share Posted May 15, 2009 That is a powerful poem...I so understand... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Question
shortpig
Please be prepared for emotions. If you are having a really bad day put this on the back burner and do not read it! Wait for another day please.
The Other Veteran
Oh how proud I was when I signed up to serve
Protect my country, I had such a nerve
For some reason though unbeknownst to me
I was not warned what my fate would be.
I learned to march and be part of a team,
They taught me pride, gave me self esteem.
They gave me a gun taught me how to aim
How to pull the Trigger again and again
I felt big and strong all puffed up with pride
Until that night and the horrifying ride
Yes Sgt please take me back to the base
He soon made it clear I was no longer safe
When I finally arrived back on the base
Beaten and bruised I felt so disgraced
I prayed that someone would save my life
Stand up for me and and help with my strife
Soon I would learn that wasn’t the case
I was left all alone in this strange lonely place
There was no support for the wounded like me
I was then told it was over, so just let it be
It wasn’t over for the horror lives on
It comes in waves at night and at dawn
Now broken and battered and needing that team
I’m no longer fit and lost all self esteem
They no longer need me as a soldier they say
So go pack your things and be on your way
Far as we are concerned your life here is done
Go back to your family, Hurry up now and run
I have since learned after thirty years and more
I’m not truly alone for I’ve met so many more
So many of us who were used and abused
Then thrown away while they kept the accused
So many nightmares I cannot control
Great fear of people and of the unknown
Trigger now means sights, smells and sounds
No longer aiming and shooting some rounds
My days are now spent much different from most
I live with my fears that are shared with a ghost
Most spent in seclusion so afraid to come out
Panic and fear is what my life is about
I’m the Other Veteran with a war yet I can’t win
Still fighting and losing the battle to him
My body now old will shake out of control
The pain and the ache are deep down in my soul
Should you someday meet someone who suffers like me
Remember their battle that no one can see
It’s there big as life for them day after day
Even when sleeping it won’t go away
The Other Veteran
JMS/Shortpig
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