"You Know"
By Lani Hankins
You should know, more than me
what it is like to fall asleep
some place you are not welcome,
some place so far away.
You should understand, as much as I do
how lonely it can feel
on the other side of the world,
so very far from home.
You should remember, like I soon will
why support means so much;
how a simple letter can be the strength
to get you by when things get tough.
And you should have been there
after every oath and every creed.
You know what you're supposed to do
when a soldier is in need.
I expected so much more from you,
but I should have known that
things were bound to change.
When you had to hang up the uniform
you forgot about this place.
Lani Hankins is a former Army female engagement team member and a veteran of Afghanistan. Follow her here. Listen to the Savage Wonder episode with her here.
She blogs and podcasts at Kruse Corner.
Bunny: Poems About Surviving Military Life by Lani Hankins
Bottled Away: Confessions of a Struggling Veteran by Lani Hankins
The Gaslit Heart: A Story of Service and Survival by Lani Hankins
Eased Pain: Poems About Surviving Domestic Violence by Lani Hankins
What’s happening at VetRep…
This weekend VetRep is participating in Beacon Open Studios and Upstate Art. You can find us at 139 Main St., in Beacon, NY, showcasing local artists within the veteran community, as well as 257 Main St., in Cornwall all weekend long!
Listen to our latest episode with Kimberly Evans on the Savage Wonder Podcast, where we interview incredibly talented musicians, artists, writers, and theater professionals, who also happen to be veterans.
Join us this Saturday at the Parlor for Thrillers and Laughs, a collection of seven, veteran authored 10-minute plays that are sure to amuse, startle, and thrill you. Settle in with a refreshing summer mocktail and dessert made by our friends at Jones Farm for a night you won’t forget. Shows have been sold out all season long, so get your tickets before they’re gone!