Homecoming

The Ribbons on his chest

The thousand-yard stare

A DD-214

They told him DiDi Mau!*

            *Get the @#%$ out of here!

An airplane, a ship, a bus, and a thumb

Crossing 8 time zones

The World.

No men in black pajamas

with AK’s

No thuds walking closer

No C-Rations with bad cheese

Resuming his cheap civilian ways

Among men with bone spurs

Mothers with answered prayers

Mothers with Gold Stars in the window

Pretty young round-eyed girls

Just like before

Waiting to write their Dear Johns

Riots in the streets

Protests at the gates

Of dead Camelot

Bad habits

Lucky Strikes, beer, a little dope

Fitting in

Job applications

Skills?

Rifleman, KW-7* repairman, potato peeler

            *Sorry, it’s classified.

Desired position?

Something without mud, blood, or the creeping crud

GI Bill, college, home loans

Old men at the Legion

Talking glory, duty, country

Not his war

A bed

With clean sheets and a pillow

Then the demons come….

LDT October,12, ‘24

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