Battle Unspoken
- 11 hours ago
- 2 min read
By T. K. Mason
PROMPT—No one noticed ...
I seek to say no words on what I feel
My wounds know that time will not heal
The wounds weep inside, atop other scars they hide
The truth about the day they all died
They, being my feelings, had nothing more to say
They can no longer hurt me beyond that day
My wounds cut to my core, much too deep
That is why I hushed them, I put them to sleep
To surface no more without advanced notice
An unspoken battle, most warriors know this
The fight within rages so violently
The military, they taught us to suffer ever so silently
I buried it all way down within me, ever so quietly
I suffered for the cause, but I did it triumphantly!
But what did I ever really win?
Hiding my wounds within, is that the greater sin?
I feel completely erased
My feelings had no real safe space
My battle remains unspoken
My life, my feelings, just another unspent token
Help me, my feelings strain to shout
Before it’s too late and the light goes out
Nobody came to help with the feelings I hid
So, I did it, walked away from life, barely a nineteen-year-old kid…
T. K. Mason is a retired veteran and graduate of the Sothern New Hampshire University MA English/Creative Writing Program. She has never been published, but came across the Journal of Expressive Writing and wanted to submit this poem because of a conversation she had with another military retiree. A young airman they knew in passing, because they both were on our way out, committed suicide and they realized that they didn't remember his name. T.K. wrote this so she would not forget him or what he must have been going through at the time he made the decision to do it. Whether this poem was ever published, T.K. will always remember him even if she doesn't remember his name. That poor young man joined their ranks and died alone. The least she can do is consider how he felt and write it for someone else who may need to know these unspoken battles are being fought, and to bring awareness to the plight of military members everywhere. T.K. writes from San Antonio, Texas.
