Every year it returns
With grey skies, cold winds
That biting burn deep in the lingering scar
Of a time long since been
But not so afar
I have not but to close my eyes and remember
Then
The hellos, the good byes, and the “no-shits” there we were
Full of lies and half-truths and Copenhagen, Ripits
Lunch with all the fix-ins, fixin to get up outta this god-forsaken place
Fixin to call my family, fixin to head back to the suck.
Real mashed potatoes and French fries, and soft serve ice cream
Fixin to go to the PX, do you need anything before we head out?
Take care, good luck, see ya’ll later, watch your ass out there.
Then we all loaded up.
One of them died, two others got hurt.
Didn’t see it, just heard
Loud boom, smoke far off telling the tell as it drifted upwards
Nevertheless, every year it comes back.
The smell, the feel, the funeral
Remembering that day, of that year like it was my last, not so afar
Thomas "Tom" J. Carnes III (he/him), a La Vernia, Texas resident, serves as a dedicated Criminal Justice Teacher at Madison High School in San Antonio, where he imparts valuable knowledge to high school students and mentors youth. With a rich and varied military background, he was commissioned as an officer in the Army National Guard and deployed to Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Thomas found inspiration for his poetic endeavors, channeling his transformative experiences into creative expression.
What’s happening at VetRep…
Listen to our latest episode with Stephanie Kline on the Savage Wonder Podcast, where we interview incredibly talented musicians, artists, writers, and theater professionals, who also happen to be veterans.