I know that Memorial Day is for remembering those who perished in their service to our country, but I submit that there are many who came home and walk among us who have lost their lives in a different way. I wrote this several years ago after one such casualty returned from the sand.
I pray for the families in both scenarios and thank all veterans and their families for their service. God Bless America
Lost in The Sand
We were so happy when he came home safe and sound
Not a scar or a scratch could be seen
But we found later that they were there, just out of sight
And while his body came home, his spirit was lost
Missing In Action, a Prisoner of War
When we drive past
innocuous buildings in the city now, he shows us which ones would be good
sniper posts
He gives us unrequested tips on where we could hide if we
were to suddenly be under fire
And he drinks beer from the time he wakes up till he lays his
head down at night
Never water, it could be poisoned
And never from a container opened by someone else
He doesn’t trust anyone.
His daughter didn’t want to see the differences in him
But his wife couldn’t help it
Especially after he woke her one night by punching her in
the face
He hadn’t meant to hurt her
of course
He was dreaming and the enemy haunted his dreams
Then she became the enemy in his waking hours too
Requiring more of him than he could give by simply needing
him to come home
All the way home
And leave the sand behind
He never could though
So he left her too
He carries his wounds deep inside,
So far no one can see,
Unless they loved him before he went to war
Then they know
And they wait for him to return, all the way, from the sand.
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