"I've Lost a Few Men"
By Lani Hankins
She asked if I had ever had a girl crush and I confessed I had.
There were more than just a few who had grabbed at my attention,
pulling at my heartstrings as they danced almost nightly through my brain.
And while I waited for such company,
for the intimacy I missed,
those girls could have me whenever they wanted.
They had me each time they had him.
For that, I craved the sweet nothings that were being whispered into his ear and
longed for the soft caress that had made him forget my gentle touch
along with the warmth that had kept his body wrapped around my own.
I yearned for the embrace that kept him away at night and
hungered for a taste of the love that was once mine.
I wanted everything they had because I didn't know what had captured his heart.
I didn't know what it was about them that led his hands from my grasp, or
how it was that they were able to snatch his kiss right from my lips.
Whatever it was I wanted it all, even wanting her so I could
steal back the love stolen from me.
But considering how their scent lingered and their kisses stained the creases of his skin,
I suppose I also had those girls whenever I had him
Lani Hankins is a former Army female engagement team member and a veteran of Afghanistan. Follow her here. Listen to the Savage Wonder episode with her here.
She blogs and podcasts at Kruse Corner.
Bunny: Poems About Surviving Military Life by Lani Hankins
Bottled Away: Confessions of a Struggling Veteran by Lani Hankins
The Gaslit Heart: A Story of Service and Survival by Lani Hankins
Eased Pain: Poems About Surviving Domestic Violence by Lani Hankins
What’s happening at VetRep…
Tickets are going fast for the Parlor this season, our show in May is Bad Jews by Joshua Harmon. The night after their grandfather’s funeral, three cousins engage in a verbal (and sometimes physical) battle. In one corner is Daphna Feygenbaum, a “Real Jew” who is volatile, self-assured and unbending. In the other is her equally stubborn cousin Liam, a secular and entitled young man, who has his shiksa girlfriend, Melody, in tow. Stuck in the middle is Liam’s brother, Jonah, who tries to stay out of the fray. When Liam stakes claim to their grandfather's Chai necklace, a vicious and hilarious brawl over family, faith, and legacy ensues. Don’t miss out, reserve your tickets for Bad Jews here!
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.