We Are All

A poem about the reality of being a US war veteran in the present.

The government tells us, ‘hey, vets we understand,

Take your pharmaceuticals, stay calm - follow the plan’.

Pump us full of opioids and benzodiazepines,

We are no longer their problem when we check out by our own means.

Army, Air Force, Navy and even the Marines,

We are all the same in their eyes, unraveled at the seams.

Twenty vets a day decide they can’t handle the pain,

We are all affected by it; all vets are one and the same.

When will something give, when will they see they need to change,

We are all suffering; our minds have been deranged.

We’ve volunteered and done things, we wish we didn’t do,

We are all sacrificing our lives, so it won’t be required of you.

Sometimes we’re told, ‘Man up, get over it and be strong’,

We are all experienced enough, to know this train of thought is wrong.

You see what you don’t know, is what’s happening in our head,

We are all reliving trauma, and countless tears have been shed.

Some see the enemy staring blankly, bloodied on the ground,

Some still hear children screaming, and crying all around.

Every vet I know has some demons of their own,

We’re just asking for some help, so we can make it home.

Author's Note

First poem I have ever written on more than a sticky note, any constructive criticism is definitely welcome. Thank you in advance.