Monday, May 21, 2007

I DON'T MISS THE WAR (a short story that ends in a poem)

A short story that ends in a poem.

About 5 months ago i was invited to see a friend perform in a Christmas show. I arrived and as I anticipated spent most of the night listening to a variety of christmas songs with one or two Hannukah ( i think thats how you spell it) songs thrown in. At one point in the night a song - which of course i cant rememember the exact title - (something along the lines of 'if a war song isnt right on christmas why is it any other time?') was performed and it struck a note with me. Having been in the military - and only recently out - it inspired me to reflect on a few different things regarding my service and time in. Specifically, the many questions you get regarding if you miss it, or why you do it, and how you feel about the experience in general. So at 3am one random night after the concert i came up with the following. If anybody out there has some writing about their time in the military (or married to the military, etc. etc.), please post it on here and share your thoughts.



I DONT MISS THE WAR
I DO NOT, MISS, THE WAR
I MISS HAVING A JOB THAT MEANS SOMETHING
I MISS CARING ABOUT ANOTHER LIFE MORE THAN MY OWN
I MISS HAVING FRIENDS WHO WOULD DIE WITH YOU AND FOR YOU
AND I MISS MY BROTHERS
BUT I DONT MISS THE WAR
I MISS THE FANTASY OF A PERFECT LOVE BACK HOME
I MISS BEING HIGH WITHOUT TOUCHING A DRUG
I MISS BEING AFRAID
AND I MISS BEING A SOLDIER
BUT I DONT MISS THE WAR
I MISS BLOWING SHIT UP
I MISS FACING DEATH WILLINGLY
I MISS HAVING NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT BUT STAYING ALIVE
AND I MISS FEELING ALIVE
I DONT MISS THE WAR BUT I MISS WAR


So again...if you have written anything regarding the war, your military experience, or your loved one in the military -- whether it's a poem, a story, a video, whatever -- we would love to see it. SO POST BACK :)

- unfiltered and real

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