Coming Home

belligerence
they asked for it
but you could never obey
to their wishes.

steel yourself, they said
but how (?)
could you avoid
seeing the maimed carcasses
paving your way?

when you returned
you were empty
broken
and it wasn’t your fault.

good intentions
turned to ash
on your tongue.
in your heart.
in your mind.
never should have.

a soldier’s burden.

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