REFLECTIONS OF MY “WAR”

EVERY WINTER DAY,
I THOUGHT ABOUT MY PREGNANT WIFE.
NOT ABOUT THE “COMBAT” PAY,
BUT THE COMING OF NEW LIFE.

THE JETS WENT OUT,
I FIXED A DIFFERENT ONE.
MAINTENANCE WOULD SCREAM AND SHOUT,
UNTIL OUR SHIFT WAS DONE.

THE MOUNTAINS IN BAGRAM WERE BEAUTIFUL
BUT DO NOT LET THAT FOOL YOU,
WE ALL REMAINED DUTIFUL.
PEOPLE BACK HOME DO NOT HAVE A CLUE.

EVERYDAY, MORE AND MORE
ANOTHER MEDIVAC SCRAMBLES.
THE ROTORS WOULD SHAKE THE FLOOR,
ANOTHER FAMILY IN SHAMBLES.

SNOW, WIND, AND RAIN
FREEZING ASS COLD.
FAMILIES BACK HOME FEELING PAIN,
AND FOR ME, THIS SHIT’S GETTING OLD.

ONCE A WEEK, THE BASE SHUTS DOWN
SO WE CAN WATCH THE ROLLING CASKETS.
“WHY THE HELL ARE WE HERE?’ IS THE QUESTION,
BUT NO ONE FUCKING ASKS IT.

AGAIN THE CHOPPERS DROP OFF MORE DEAD AND WOUNDED
SOME CARRYING THEIR OWN PLASMA.
THE SNOW FORCES THE JETS TO BE GROUNDED,
I WISH I TOLD THEM THAT I HAD ASTHMA.

THE GUYS ALL WORRY ABOUT WORK AND CHOW
OR WHAT 360 GAME THEY WILL PLAY.
I SIT AROUND, AND THINK ABOUT HOW
I CAN GET AWAY FROM THIS “DAY-TO-DAY”.

BUT AGAIN THE HELOS START TO LAND,
FEWER MEN WALKING, MORE IN BLACK BAGS,
THERE IS ONLY SNOW, I’VE NOT YET SEEN SAND,
TWO GUYS START ARGUING ABOUT A TATTOO MAG.

FINALLY OFF SHIFT AND WALKING HOME
I SEE THE SOLDIERS WAITING, HUMVEES IN LINE
AFTER WEEKS OF THIS SHIT MY HEART FEELS LIKE FOAM
WONDERING HOW THEY CAN STILL SING, RAP, AND RHYME.

HOW CAN THEY BE HAPPY ABOUT GOING OUTSIDE THE WIRE?
DON’T THEIR SOULS START TO TIRE?
IED’S, MORTARS, OR SMALL ARMS FIRE,
ANYONE WHO LIKES IT, IS A FUCKING LIAR.

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER SHIFT
ANOTHER HELO, ANOTHER SOLDIER.

THE DEATH AND DECAY MAKES ME WANT TO SHOUT!
I WONDER IF I SAW HIM LAST NIGHT BEFORE HE WENT OUT?