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The Rest: Terror
The French word for ‘cockroach’ is ‘le cafard’.
In some contexts it can mean ‘depression’.
But for the soldiers always standing guard,
‘Avoir le cafard’ refers to boredom.
I’ve heard war has been described as follows:
“Ninety percent boredom, the rest: TERROR”.
It’s true for those hiding in their hollows,
Whether combatant or stretcher-bearer.
My times in combat zones weren’t too awful.
I heard the occasional “BOOM!” or “CRACK!”.
Of friends that I knew that went to Mosul,
Everyone (Some shrapnel wounds) made it back.
But I knew some who never came back home;
At least one who suicided at home.
Copyright ©
Mark J. Halliday
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