A Letter Home

This battle raged like all the rest
The endless, sleepless nights
At dawn I reached the summit
Having fought the fight of fights

None there with me could see the medals pinned
Invisible on my chest
The wars i fought in other lands
Unknown to them at best

I looked one way – the conquered land
It stretched from sky to sky
The other way – the great unknown
Unbeaten – but I’d try

My God I screamed where is my home
Is battle all there is
The familiar smell of peacefulness
I’ve carried in my fist

Give my regards to Mom and Dad
I wish my Brother well
And pray that I can find a way
To brave this grizzly hell

Some nights when sleep comes quickly
I dream of how it’ll be
When this final war is over
And I’m back in country

I see my sweetheart there
Dressed in her evening clothes
As we sit on the front porch
And a warm night wind blows

But my adversaries taunt me
They tease me with this dream
I’m getting closer – almost got it!
It makes me want to scream

The taunting makes me stronger though
It isn’t hard to see
Tempering hardens steel
As fighting hardens me

Till next time dear family
My head is raised quite high
They’re fucking with the best this time
If I were them, I’d cry.

(C) J.A.
11/17/1995