I+Am+A+Solider

I Am A Solider, Mother

I am a man I am a solider and in 12 months my life was changed forever killing people, being killed, but as I read your letters I am a human again not the boy I was, but human.

I am a murder, I will never forget the smell of blood or the sound of the guns never, never, never.

I will never forget the sound of the screams, the screams that raged through my best buddies lips or the words he crocked out to me as he took his final breathe or the fettered look that left his face as he slowly passed away never, never, never.

With all the death I have seen I became an old man, but your letters brought me life. I miss you but am glad you are not with me.

I have humped for 6 klicks a day And at the end of the day wanted to drop on the ground Worthless, But have forced myself on.

Chasing Charlie day after day.

Watching tunnel rats dive down to their doom relieved, for the broad shoulders you gave me, thankful I don’t have to know I am crawling to my death.

I yearn for the day that the whoosh whoosh whoosh of the helicopter will be for me, to take me home.

But I would not trade my experience for anything it has made me who I am.