Tag: Veterans

For You, My Favorite Veteran.

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Karen & I, April 2024 (my birthday weekend and trip back home to Savannah, Georgia).

I’ll never forget that morning
You called me in tears . . .
Painful sobs hit my ears
As I struggled to open my
Eyes and listen to your words.

You thought something
Happened to me–I was unsafe
Or hurt or about to do something
To myself I hadn’t run by
God first, and upon hearing
The pain in your voice, it shook
Me awake.

I could never leave this earth
In a way that would cause
You to worry about my actions.
You deserve full reports and
Regular updates.
We grew from teenagers running
Away from home to adults
Running to our homes and
Love looks good on us.

My beautiful friend, my sister . . .
Thank you for your service–for
The fearless enlisting that would
Swallow twenty years of your life
And have me stand back in awe
Of your choice to serve a nation
That still hates us.

I am proud of you.
You have been an inspiration
And a joy in my life that
Ages like fine wine.

I would war for you without
Hesitation–throw on the full
Armor of God if you were ever
In danger–blood doesn’t bind
Us, but love does.
Experience does.
Grief does.
Healing does.

And if the world doesn’t
Recognize your beauty in
My presence, it will be force-fed
Stories about your existence
To acknowledge it because
It’s the right thing to do.

You survived a system for
Over two decades that never
Had you as its highest priority,
And you lived to recount the details.
You are my hero and forever
Will be.
Happy Veterans Day, Karen!

And Happy Veterans Day to all veterans. Thank you for your service.

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

The Gift of Humanity

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manwithdog
Courtesy of Jon/Flickr

I see them
He has his four-legged buddy
Pulled close to his chest
The two of them
Down
But 
Not
Out

And the tears well up
Inside me
I break a 20-dollar-bill
When I purchase my coffee
And give him what I can

The dog–
A wagging tail,
Happy to see someone stop
And pay him a decent amount
Of attention
The young man–
Young, but old, tired–
Torn

He 
Has
On
The pants of our
Nation, yet he isn’t
Fighting anymore.

I hide my tears when talking
To him. I save them for later.
I pull off,
Knowing that tomorrow
I’ll probably stop by
Just because
I can.

It’s my gift to him
For being a brother
Struggling alongside
His best friend who wouldn’t
Stray away if someone
Wanted nothing more than to
Scoop him up and shower him with
Toys.

He is his own version of
Humanity, sitting
Waiting
For 
His 
Luck
To change.

Author’s Note: Just as I was pulling into Starbucks, I glanced across the street to the McDonald’s parking lot and just behind all of the commotion, tucked in neatly by the trees was a young man, his belongings, and his dog. I don’t handle seeing anyone less fortunate than myself well at all. I tear up, I get extremely sad and I want very much to help everyone, it’s one of the reasons why I volunteer at one of the local homeless shelters here in my area. It’s one of the reasons why I do what I can when I am out and about and someone needs, truly needs help. His dog, a pit-bull mix, friendly pup, jumped up to my car window as I talked to the young man. He had on army-wear with a matching cap, and a jacket. I tried my best not to cry in front of him and as soon as I pulled off, I let the tears flow. I have been shaking them off since I got back home and I just give up. I am a bumbling, fumbling mess now. But, my presence, my gift to him, our short conversation, was a blessing to not only him, but to me as well. I don’t care what you do today, take a moment to be thankful for what you have. Then take ten more to be thankful for everything you know you’ve ever been blessed with when you needed it most.

Peace and blessings.