War Wounds

If you'd seen this metamorphosis Wide-eyed boy- proud soldier- anguished vet If you watched the light in his eyes transform into night-terror cries no more sleep at night--no more love for wife ........this war would wound you too Direction needing, structure seeking signed on dotted line You were shipped as fast as trained 2 week deep bootcamp grad Midwest kid set out for foreign land We got matching tattoo's as a farewell F'You! My brother's now G.I. Joe Seeing morning news reporters skillful truth distorters Plasticine smiling..... human caricatures Update deathtolls daily-I cringed each time, each day Rattled off like a lotto number-I clenched my teeth After a year and a half...you made it back. Thank God for that day When you've see this Metamorphosis shocking at first, then grows steadily worse To see friends welcome him...high fives, hugs, and hand shakes hear them asking him to paint a scene to relive this nightmare-laden dream His eyes shutter-bug flicked...unfocused, then recalibrated trying to convey hell to those lacking perspective They went on to catch him up on "current events" in town distantly, looking down....recalling explosion sounds Hearing them but no longer identifying....it all seems so small If you've seen this Metamorphosis My heart goes out to you To hear those voices we've known carry somber tones...present, but not feeling at home .....this war's wounds I feel with you.