"Conduct Unbecoming"

By Amy Sexauer

Did you know
The challenges we would face
When you preached to us
About eyeliner
And the length of our shorts?

Show me how to lead humans
How to hold together many hearts
How to integrate the demons that will come
Tell me how you broke
And put something back together

Cowards
Do not lack bravery
But face the wrong threat
You trapped us
Against the wrong enemy

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Amy Sexauer is a poet and author of Poppies published by Dead Reckoning Collective, from which this poem was taken. She is a West Point graduate who spent nine years on active duty in Military Police and Psychological Operations units. She is currently in the Army Reserves. You can listen to our Savage Wonder episode with her here. Follow her here.

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What’s happening at VetRep…

Catch our interview this week with Elliot Ackerman on the Savage Wonder Podcast here.

Tickets are going fast for the Parlor this season, reserve your seats for Woody Allen’s Central Park West here before they sell out! For the month of June we will be opening Central Park West with the winner of our inaugural 10-minute play competition, Fifteen Dead Souls, by Leilani Squire.

We are currently offering multiple dates for our online and in-person Playwriting for Veterans classes, and our Acting for Beginners class is now being offered weekly every Saturday from 10am-12pm. Scholarships for qualifying veterans, as well as multi-class passes are available. Registration details can be found here.