PTSD Survivor Poetry by Mike Shea

Posted by Michele Rosenthal

Friday, April 18th, 2014 • PTSD Guest Post: Survivors Speak •

 

PTSD Survivor Poetry by Mike Shea is this week’s installment in our ongoing celebration of National Poetry Month….

MAY 11, 1972

There is something that enters
a soldier
when a fallen comrade
dies in action
an invisible substance
from millions and millions
who perished while
serving the order of things
leaders go out front
or hover above
distilling the big picture
while the grunts
stay on the ground
chewed up by malice
and hatred
I know a colonel
who died for me
and his invisible
substance entered me
at my meeting with terrorism
in 1972 Germany.
can you please define
invisible substance!
die for the stupid
die for the brave
die for right order
die cause its your turn
just die when its time

IRAQ

I smell your blood
I taste your bullets
I hear your smoke
I see your screams
I touch your mind
All of it
Every moment
Every cell
The hatred of intolerance,
Jihad, fatwah
The folly of aerial bombing
Civilian shields and
Mosques for munitions
The ignorance of politicians
Media and middle america
Oozes thru an open wound
As schrapnel in my psyche
A soldier’s stigmata