Warrior Fatigue

Poem13+
Written By Matt Antis

I joined them at last
Warriors of the past
Lives placed in a sieve
So loved ones could live

I came back alive
With all my pieces
But fighting won’t stop
”War never ceases.”

Stomach in a knot
Teeth full of rot
Hit the ground running
Rockets fly, humming

Beautiful fire fight
Echoes through the night
Explosions, then sleep
Rock me to the deep

Wake up on my back
Jump out of my rack
Ten to get the truck
No breakfast, outta luck

Engine starts, just fine
Sound off, last in line
Stress of eighty checklists fade
Far worse than bullet or blade

Stress at the gate
Plus stay up late
Check for light leaks
Out cold, won’t speak

Mission failing
Gunner wailing,
“Wake up Commander!
We’ve got a standard!”

Copyright © 2021 by Matt Antis. Originally published in Poet’s Guild’s Poem-A-Day on January 2, 2021, by Ink Jot Kingdom.

Background Music via Epidemic Sound
Artist: Trailer Worx
Track: Descending Mount Everest

Matt Antis

Matt Antis creates online as a freelance writer and novelist who formerly lived as a serial small-business entrepreneur. His life’s goal is to share knowledge, encourage, and challenge others through a coach-student relationship.

An unexpected deployment with the Army in 2009 halted his scholastic achievement, but! He learned the bulk of business in the proverbial trench elbow to elbow with a team of professionals who he is forever grateful for.

When he’s not being a husband, dad, shooting his bow or training parkour, you can find him teaching Sunday school, advising parkour gyms, writing for inkjotkingdom.com and his wife’s children’s book website, whitneyantis.com.

https://inkjotkingdom.com
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