Uwe Stroh Poet Free verse

Father

They come back damaged
from the war
no matter what war
there always is
some damage

he was fine in
anti aircraft
all things are distant
except the bombs
that explode
and throw you
up to twenty meters

sniper training was
exciting but secretive
the missions dark
and dangerous
lots of blood
on white snow

after all that
he took a liking to
13 year old white virgins
he liked to see them 
naked and then bleed
on white satin sheets

that was his obsession
after the war
after the russian pow camp
where they picked up
the stiff ones 
every morning

thanks be to God
that the war finished
before winter really
set in
they would all
have died

but so might have the
13 year old virgins
before they bled

who knows

reality weathers and wanes
in the midst if flashbacks
psychotic episodes
and drunken stupors

Most appear to 
function fine generally
in the mundane
ebb and flow of
life in general

Fathers, they are all
 seen as strong
they are tough
on the outside

but.........

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Joseph P. DiMino March 9, 2018 at 4:43 AM Yep. "War is hell." and everyone has some skeletons. Best to forgive self and others. We were put on this earth to grow (old, young), and then break out of this cocoon with greater intelligence and into higher experience. As was told to me by a survivor of the war, a woman from Germany--"No sin or shame in being in the gutter...your only obligation to self and for others is to try and climb-up out when given an opportunity." Great, thought provoking writing! Uwe Stroh March 9, 2018 at 4:49 AM Thanks Joe.