The Soldier

he fought in a war

that wasn’t a war,

but felt like a war

and looked like a war

and smelled like a war

and killed like a war.

he fought enemies

that looked like his allies

and talked like his allies

and ate like his allies

and fought for their lives

like his allies.

he came home to a country

that looked like his country

and smelled like his country

and held the people of his country

but didn’t love him like his country.

he dealt with pain in his body

and pain in his head

and pain in his soul

and dreams that had died

and people that had died

and with fear in the daytime

and with terror at night.

he longed for respect

for serving his country,

and he got a monument,

and he got a belated celebration.

and he got more nights of terror

and dreams of the horror

and hope that one day

his war would end.

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