Who are you,
And what have you done with my father.
You look like him,
walk like him,
but you sure as hell don’t talk like him

We thought the war had ended.
But it has just begun.
What does a soldier do when the killing is done?
You can’t escape the memories,
so you drown them in cans.
They fade in a soothing amber haze.
But the numbness is temporary.
Even beer can’t hide pain forever.

These thoughts.
They
must
get
out.
Stuck in your head,
the people you killed,
the smell of flesh burning,
The sounds of children
whose innocent lives were stilled.

But you’re safe daddy,
you’re here with us.
No need to be so vicious.
Please stop yelling daddy.
We are not the enemy.

This soldier’s sickness has taken you away,
And I’m not talking about deployment.
Come back to me
please.
I’m tired of waiting for the frown to leave your face
Of waiting for you to put the bottle down,
To realize that war is hell,
but home is a haven.
I want to love you.
Please daddy.
Come back to me.