Ok this is probably my first attempt at a poem and im not a very good constructive writer, It is hard for me to concentrate i suffer from PTSD from the war in iraq.


Trapped in my mind.


The fathers, Sons brothers and uncles i killed, Why must you haunt me at night, The screams of the women and children still chill me to the bone.

The sights of the broken, burned bodies that lay on the floor that make me sick to my stomach, I retreat into the depths of my mind trying to hide the pain, No matter what i do i still see the various body parts, An arm here a leg there.

My fellow soldiers lifeless body laying next to me, I scream in pain i scream in anger, I stand up baying for blood unbeknown to me that blood i lusted for as a very young boy would come back to haunt me later in life.

I bare no physical injury for my injury runs deep, I'm trapped in a cell in my mind that i have created, For once i stood a proud young soldier strong in mind and body, Now i feel old and conquered.

I learned to cry, And cry i did for every poor soul i sent to there gods, For the children i had laid to slain, I feel the guilt and remorse but why o why must i suffer so, Because of the few words of a politician behind a desk who chanted " To war we must go ".

This once proud defender of nations, Now lives in fear every window i look at and every corner i turn, Upon the faces of my people i see ghosts of war.

I stay awake for as long as i can, To afraid to sleep for sleep brings the war back to me, Every minute i breath im stuck in my cell i wish it never had a hold of me, I long for joy in my life for a life without joy is no life at all.

I may be broken and trapped in my cell but i still long to fight the good fight again.





By (Ex) Trooper M Kelly
Scots Dragoon Guards


Thank you for taking your time to read this, And thank you to all my brothers in arms for the great job you are doing.