PTSD

I imagined the horror, he felt in his mind,
But just couldn't grasp, the hurt to mankind,
I shuddered for him, with anguish and fright,
Thankful he lived, to see the daylight.

The black of night where much was unseen,
So much expected from, the boy of nineteen.
He completes his duties and battles the fear,
He's become a man who can persevere.

New found meaning to the rising sun,
Body intact but the mind was undone.
Every day it made its' presence known,
Until the mind made the body it's own.

Memories bring forth, a racing heart,
The nagging fears that will not depart.
Dreams that invade, in the still of the night,
In darkness there's pain, no beacons of light.

But strength has a way of rearing its head,
Reminding the soul that all is not dead.
It thrusts him forward and lifts him up,
To drink once again from life's, loving cup.

©Copyright June 2004 by Kimberly S. Bayes

Author’s Note: This poem was written for one of the VSPA member's who suffers from PTSD symptoms. He once shared his feelings about the terror he felt, in the pitch black night as he walked on guard duty alone, and how helpless he felt when bombs dropped around him. He has learned to manage his PTSD and carry on with his life.