Life

I wish I could have been better to myself.

Those days are over.

I am just alone in my mind.

My family is all, and they see me.

They see something that is invisible to me.

I love them so, and would die for them without question.

Just don’t know how to take care of me.

I am a father and husband.

In my mind I am nothing more than me.

They love my voice and show such joy when I come home.

But do they know in my heart I am alone?

There are flowers growing in my yard.

My children think they come from God.

Can’t tell them they are weeds and will die soon.

In my heart I know the truth is best.

Why tell them something that is confusing and can destroy happy memories?

I can’t.

Would rather lie down and take my last breath.

I can speak to them and understand the tender mind of youth.

Yet, I have forgotten the simple and utter truth.

We have no past, only today is the here and now.

Sick people are waiting to harm them.

Woe to the ones who choose to take that chance.

I am waiting for them.

So in my mind I am nothing more than a provider of knowledge, a protector of my children, and slayer to those that stray to close.

I will stand my post in this not so subtle war.

I will watch and be there when called for.

Come home to the faces of those that pretend to appreciate the sacrifice.

Does not matter to me.

I love this country and I love my wife.

Reviews

[Emily]

This is a well written piece. You've a talent for capturing such emotion on a page.

This piece makes me a little sad. That alone feeling is extremely hard. The last sentence gives me a feeling that this may be a more PTSD problem than just the depression it seems to be. Perhaps this is the story of a soldier who has yet to re-find himself after he has come home.

I absolutely love the line "My children think they come from God". How beautiful a statement to tell of their innocence in the world. It makes me think that they are younger, before they've realized everything going on in the world around them.

The fourth sentence makes me feel as though a word may be missing. "My family is all, and they see me" Makes me wonder what they are all... all around and they see you. I wasn't quite sure about that one.

Other than that one little thing, fantastic and heartwrenching at the same time. Nice work!

[E. A. Fielder]

I understand the feeling. You let yourself go for the ones you care about and then you look at yourself and realize your running into the ground.

[Sofia N]

Wow. I have to say that this poem is awesome. It reflect so many feelings you have inside you. I love how you wrote how much your family means to you. I really love this poem. Is great, Keep on writing, you're a great writer ;)