"Phantoms"

By Ben Fortier

“Once we get out of here, things will be different.”
How naive we were to believe that fairy tale.
So many of us would return home
Only to face the demons we hid away,
While dragging brothers off kill zones
Burying the bodies they departed.

The lurking monsters would manifest themselves
In addiction,
In violence,
In the inability to maintain stable relationships.
We turn the guns on ourselves
As we become overwhelmed
By the ineffable tragedies behind us.

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Native Rhode Islander and proclaimed Renaissance Man, Iraq vet He is the author of Stones of the Wooded Valley and The Silent Whispers of Omens. His latest book PHANTOMS, covers his deployment to Iraq in '06-'07. Ben is the 2024 recipient of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation’s Robert A. Gannon award for original poetry dealing with Marine Corps Life.

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What’s happening at VetRep…

Settle in with a mocktail and a dessert for Theresa Rebeck’s contemporary comedy of manners, Spike Heels. Set in Boston, Spike Heels explores sexual harassment, misplaced amour, and the possibility of a four-sided love triangle. The evening will open with playwright (and daughter of a veteran) Anne Valentino's ten-minute play YOU ASKED and then be followed by an intermission. Tickets sell out fast so get yours before they’re gone!

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Veterans Repertory Theater presents the 2024 Savage Wonder Festival Oct 11-13. For three days VetRep will feature installations, music, and nightly performances from Veteran artists at our Main St. location in Beacon, NY. Come experience the evolving space, art, and immersive performances and come away with something both savage, and wonderful.

We would also like to extend our gratitude to Arts Mid Hudson for awarding VetRep the Dutchess programmatic grant in support of the Savage Wonder Festival.

This project is made possible with funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered by Arts Mid-Hudson.