"Witness Me"
by Mason Rodrigue
In this world of false idols and hypocrites
preaching their fake philosophies
and false dichotomies
selling the masses lies
and cookie cutter lobotomies,
fulfilling history's repeating prophecies,
I just want my truth to set me free
Who am I when no one is left
To tell me who to be?
The Marine Corps took the best of me,
I'm freely giving anyone who will listen
What's left of me
I write, prolifically
I pace, restlessly
I drink, excessively
I hate, incessantly
I think, aggressively
I am frozen, breathlessly
I am anxiety, so don't stand next to me
I'm an IED, detonate me
I am bored, fascinate me
The infantry, captivated me
I am a problem, deployment exacerbated me
Never comfortable with peaceful silence
I wanted the speed, the chaos, the violence
In case things are going too well,
break glass
Pedal to the medal,
give it all the gas
Die young, live fast
I am a spent shell casing,
I'm only brass
Syria reminded me of Fury Road
Heavy Guns in Big Trucks waiting to explode
I wanted to Ride Eternal, Shiny and Chrome
I wasn't fated for Valhalla,
Now I'm out and alone
I'm detonating this heart of stone
giving away the shrapnel to everyone else
who can't find their way home
This poetry is all that's left of me,
another half-life War Boy,
Witness Me
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Learn more about Veterans Repertory Theater here. Listen to the Savage Wonder podcast here.