|
Blossom Festival Ending |
 |
|
This was the big weekend
In this little town
To
finish out the celebration
Some yahoos set off fireworks
I react, instinctively, rolling
The second blast goes
off
To the windows
Looking down on the street
Man
with a rifle
I react, instinctively, stealth
Down
the stairs
It's just the young Marine
Back from Iraq
I take a chance, communicate
He reacted, instinctively,
armed
More fireworks go off
We call the cops
Then go out to watch.
The cops do nothing;
We react,
investigative-ly, searching
We find the fireworks
lighters
Confront them with question
They answer "is
it against your religion?"
My answer "Sort of, I've got
PTSD"
Lighters react, ignorantly
I inform them
what PTSD is
The father replies you're not old enough for
NAM
My response shocks him.
The Marines response
enlightens him.
The father reacts Marine-like
I
return to the apartment
Check on the NAM vet living here
His daughter is frightened
I kneel beside him
He
reacted spasmodically
........
I made sure he took his sleeping pill and stayed with
him until he fell off to sleep. After coming back to my
apartment, I forgot my own advice and didn't take my
sleeping pill. I tossed and turned all night. Guardian spent
the night dodging fists, chops, and kicks. After I gave up
trying to sleep, I started writing this poem and chatting
with Monica. I'm waiting now for a reasonable hour to call
my sister before I go take my sleeping pill and crash out
for the day. I may also call my counselor to let him know
what happened. |
By Mark I. Kirkmeyer
Copyright 2006
Listed
July 28, 2012 |
|
|
About
Author...
Mark Kirkmeyer served as a Light Weapons/Medical Specialist in the U.S. Army (1983-88), the U.S. Army Reserve (1988-1992), and the California National Guard (1992-1995). He is Gulf War Veteran (1991) and served in Korea (1986-87).It is illegal to
use this poem without the author's permission.
~~ Send your comments and/or use permission request to
Mark I. Kirkmeyer ~~ |
Poem Use Permission Request
USA Patriotism! cannot
provide use permission for a poem or an author's email address
if not listed below the poem. Only the author or a legal
representative can grant permission. Try a search engine to find the
author's contact information for a use permission request or if
it is available for public use.
Note: Poems authored in the
1700s and 1800s can be used with reference to the author. |
Comment on this poem |
|
| | |
|
| Troops and Veterans Poems | Poem Categories |
|
