They gathered around him
there among the tools the grease
and the crates
.
they gathered to hear
to see to feel to know that
it was real he was real
not just some story on
the silver screen
.
they both wanted to
hear the stories of bravery
and the details
of what it was like
.
the fear in the trenches
sweating and wondering
if you'd ever make it home
if you'd ever see your family
.
your wife your child
your mom your dad
your brothers and sisters
and cousins and friends
.
if you'd ever again stand
on the diamond where
you once played ball
ever sit in the stands
and eat a hotdog again
ever take your girl to
a movie and in the dark
.
hold her
touch her
kiss her
.
ever slide into a booth
at the old diner and
eat a burger and fries
with friends
.
ever again
.
instead you held
your cross and prayed
prayed like you'd never prayed
before
.
before this day this hour
this moment
.
once long ago
there had been time
lots of time
and dreams
dreams of places you'd go
things you'd do
a life you would live
but now there were
.
only moments
.
fragments of moments
as each bullet whizzed by
each bomb shook the earth
each friend keeled over
never to be heard from again
.
no more bad jokes
no more bummed cigarettes
no more anything
.
just you looking at the crinkled photo
of your girl stuffed in your helmet
the girl the home the place
you're fighting to defend
and longing to see again <3
.
~ poem "A Hero's Return" by Michael Traveler, author/poet