You were a soldier once,
So proud, and strong, and brave.
What happened to that self esteem,
You fought so hard to save? What's that you say, you lost it?
In a far off distant war?
You came home from the battleground,
And couldn't fight no more?

Visions of death still haunt you,
Through the hours of every day?
You were a soldier once,
That now has lost her way?

The ghosts of enemy soldiers,
Have captured your very core,
And part of you feels as if,
You died back in that war?

Guilt, and shame, and anger,
Have rattled your self esteem,
And happiness or a "normal" life,
Is just a childhood dream?

You can't see any future,
With your family or with friends?
Can't let down your guard to sleep,
Yet the nightmare never ends?

And everyday life stressors,
Can fill your heart with fear?
You walk this Earth in sorrow,
But still can't shed a tear?

A child's cry can take you back,
To that far off distant land,
And it's hard to find one person,
That you know will understand?

That helpless, hopeless feeling,
Brings you right back to the war,
And it feels like you're still fighting,
The same battles as before?

You lash out in your aloneness,
Just dying to find a friend,
Like your sisters on the battlefield,
Who stay with you till the end?

My fellow combat veterans,
We are safe here in this place,
You are not alone my comrade,
In this combat that we face.

We are sisters bound by honor,
And our battle's called PTSD,
Let's face our demons together,
To stand brave, and proud, and free.

 

Chris Woolnough   1/18/04