why do
i fight
and
i scream
and
i curse
and
i rage
and
i endure?
because
you cannot
my why
my answer to the
pistol whispers at midnight
when I’m up to my neck in fear
and
choking on nightmares
my why
why I fight the laughing
Clowns of self doubt
and the skeletal fingers
pointing from my closet
my why
the scream of
fuck you
to the wall
of silence and loneliness
my why
because if I live on
in spite of the cold
and the dark and the
deep secret places
that no one
will ever know;
then you live on
through me
and the light you brought,
if only for a little while,
will build a fire
that will burn on
and on
and will warm my hands
as I plunge them
into the secret places of my heart
and the hearts of those that suffer
like you did
like I do
you,
burning bright,
snuffing out,
became
my why
Steve Callahan is a writer, a poet and a former Marine infantryman. Bursting with creative efforts, Steve runs a poetry site, podcast, and is heavily involved in PB Abbate. Steve’s writing covers his experiences in the Marines, his deployment to Helmand and the psychological peaks and valleys of an infantryman’s life. Follow him here.
Listen to our Podcast with Steve here.
What’s happening at VetRep…
Listen to our latest episode with Lois Hicks-Wozniak on the Savage Wonder Podcast, where we interview incredibly talented musicians, artists, writers, and theater professionals, who also happen to be veterans.
The parlor is back! Our first show of the season titled “Dunkirk…and Other Surprises” is a feature of seven veteran authored 10-minute plays. Join us for an evening of both drama and comedies, accompanied by dessert and a refreshing mocktail! Seating is limited and shows sell out fast, so get your tickets here.