War's Aftermath

The noises ~ the sound ~

falling rain on sandy ground ~

the trees, canopies

the dark and the damp

brothers, sisters, base camp

the smells ~ the fears ~ the letters and tears,

the now and the why ~ the why

can't I cry ~

no answers

just left forlorn,  feeling lost

feeling scorn, or

no feeling,

no feeling at all;

except the feeling

of feeling small;

chopper sound, circling 'round

take me home

go away

but don't leave

me alone ~

nightmares, day mares

screams in my head

wondering, pondering

why I'm not dead ~

Can't stand loud noises ~ hate firecrackers

hate backfires

loud sounds ~

sounds much too much like

mortar rounds.

I sit in the corner, facing the door ~

the enemy doesn't look the same anymore ~

Go to the movies

have to get out; can't stand the dark

can't see ~ can't see

who sits behind me....

Check the perimeters

check all the locks, check all my options

synchronize clocks........

who says it's over

who says it ends ~

never for dad ~ ever so sad ~

maybe someday for me,

someday for my friends,

the war will be over

and we can forget ~ but

not yet,

not yet...........

not

yet.....

©Christina  1~26~00

[This poem is written in tribute to all casualties of war, living or dead.]