"The Moondust Clings to You"
By Steve Callahan
the moondust clings to you
like bad memories or the smell
of rotting flesh and burning shit
no matter how hard you shake
your cammies it
just doesn’t go away
the washing
the drying
and yet still
there, right where your thigh touches stiff canvas
the faint grit tickles your leg and you
remember
the bad memories cling to you
like moondust or the sound
of mortar whistle and the bellyache of exploding earth
and no matter how hard you shake
the feeling they
just don’t go away
the washing
the crying
and yet still
there, right where my mind touches utter darkness
the faint whisper tickles my ear and I
remember
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…
VetRep is proud to present Michael Frayn’s “Chinamen” for our November and December Parlor shows. This legendary British farce has five characters and only two actors, and you won’t want to miss the final, hilarious performances of the season. We have enjoyed sold out shows all year, and while there are worse problems we could have, we want to encourage you to get your tickets to “Chinamen” before they disappear!
On November 4, 2023, world-class guitarist (and military child) Michael Bard will be performing at Carnegie Hall – and a portion of the proceeds will go to VetRep! Get your tickets here.
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.
Very nice.