"Years Apart"
By Ben Fortier
The last time we mimicked this exact position,
We were young men driven by passion and determination.
To reach a goal that had inspired our friendship,
And motivated our suffering throughout our time on Parris Island.
We had seen and done the things
We imagined in our past.
Pursuing a path that didn’t seem to
Attract many of our peers.
Here we are, years apart - looking on at the young DIs
And the even younger recruits.
That Gunny is my age, bro.
Don’t you ever wonder what it would have been like
Had we stayed in?
What is it called when you feel chewed up
And spit out,
But still proud?
Native Rhode Islander and proclaimed Renaissance Man, Iraq veteran Benjamin Fortier is a multi-talented writer, musician, and technology geek. He is currently in school (again) studying computer networking and cybersecurity. His day job is in service to his rescue dog, Princess Peppa Pig the American Bully. He is the author of Stones of the Wooded Valley and The Silent Whispers of Omens.
What’s happening at VetRep…
Catch our interview with Logan Vath this week on the Savage Wonder Podcast.
Savage WonderGround is coming back to Alexandria, VA on April 13th. This unique performance will feature original music by Logan Vath, live art by Kris Battles, while Charles McCaffrey and Dex will lead the audience with a narrative told in spoken word and poetry. Get all the details and snag your tickets here. Special thanks to Wegman’s Carlyle for sponsoring this event!
Get your tickets to our first staged reading of the 2023 Parlor season, Speed-The-Plow, by David Mamet here.
Our first full-length playwriting contest winner, Brat by Jason Pizzarello is now going to be our first co-production workshop reading with Rockland County’s Penguin Rep Theatre. Directed by Bob Balaban (The Exonerated, Gosford Park, The French Dispatch), the readings will star Edie Falco (The Sopranos, Nurse Jackie, Avatar: The Way of Water). Workshop readings are scheduled Friday, April 14 at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 15 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, April 16 at 2 p.m. Seating is limited. Tickets are $30 ($25 for veterans) and can be purchased online at penguinrep.org or by calling the Penguin box office at (845) 786-2873. Tickets can be purchased here.
We are currently offering multiple dates for our online and in-person Playwriting for Veterans classes, and our Acting for Beginners class is now being offered weekly every Saturday from 10am-12pm. Registration details can be found here.
Thanks for this.