These are about a Veteran. Someone I know well, and to be frank this story could easily be mine. When I sat down and went through the notes I tried to make one poem out of it all but quickly realised that it needed more than one. I may add more to these later.
Anyway, it's a story that could have ended tragically, but didn't. Because there is hope, there is a way out, no matter what you have been through. His story is evidence of that.
As a footnote I'd like to add:
No matter what stories a Veteran may tell you, funny, sad, tragic, it doesn't matter, those stories will always be censored for civilian ears. No one ever want's to hear the true unadulterated version, you may think you do, but trust me, you do not. Because they are usually just to gruesome or perhaps even still classified for the average person. So pertinent parts of the story will be edited for your ears.
A Life
In shadows of a home where evil thrived,
His father's darkness, nothing could contrive,
No tears were shed, no sorrow ever shown,
At the funeral of a man so known.
In the crucible of a toxic family's strife,
His mother's love, a fragile, guiding light,
But his father's cruelty, an endless blight,
No love or warmth, just endless night.
Bullied as a child, in that toxic space,
His father's cruelty etched upon his face,
Seeking refuge in a uniforms embrace,
From the clutches of a man without a trace.
With side trauma's weight, he turned to drink,
To numb the pain, to help him to not think,
In that uniforms grasp, war's scars persist,
A past that clung to him, a relentless twist.
Leaving the service, wounded, broken, scarred,
Invisible demons, his soul was marred,
He walked through shadows, dark and bitter cold,
A life in time, where his story's told.
Booze to live a life, women, parties his constant friends,
A life of chaos, where no story ends,
Yet deep within, hope's ember softly burned,
A glimmer of redemption, finally earned.
One day, he found the strength and turned away,
From a life that led him far, so far astray,
He chose the path to sobriety and light,
To heal the wounds, to make his story right.
Seeking help for his demons' hold,
Mending the wounds, both new and old,
Today, he stands as a testament to grace,
A life rebuilt from darkness, taking his place.
Lost In Endless Night
In shadows cast by a cruel patriarch’s might,
A family suffered, lost in endless night,
Brothers and sisters, bound by blood and pain,
A tale of abuse, a haunting refrain.
Physical blows, like thunderous storms collide,
Emotional wounds, where innocence hides,
The sinister touch, a darkened crime,
Echoes through time, an unsung rhyme.
In a house of horror, love decayed,
Siblings entangled, hearts betrayed,
Yet within the torment, a bond held strong,
A shared agony, a legacy long.
From this crucible, a man emerged,
Survivor’s eyes, his past submerged,
His brothers and sisters, scarred as he,
In the twisted script of family.
Through the service, escape he sought,
Yet shadows of abuse, a chilling thought,
Trauma’s grip, relentless and cold,
A narrative of pain, forever told.
In the military’s embrace, a refuge found,
Yet demons lingered, haunting sound,
Alcohol’s solace, a fleeting balm,
In war’s aftermath, where silence swarmed.
Leaving the service, battered and bruised,
Undiagnosed wounds, his spirit confused,
In a toxic life, with crooks he’d align,
Drinking, drugging, choices malign.
Yet within the chaos, a spark remained,
A glimmer of hope, no longer chained,
He walked away from the toxic fray,
To rebuild a life, find a brighter day.
For his siblings’ sake, he faced the pain,
Sought sobriety, broke the chain,
A survivor’s tale, a journey profound,
From shadows dark, a hopeful sound.
Help for the wounds, both seen and veiled,
Confronted the darkness, his spirit exhaled,
Brothers and sisters, scarred but strong,
In collective healing, echoes a song.
Comments