Soldier's Confession

I don't 
brag
To 
Others
About
This

And

As much
As my
Character 
Likes
TO talk

Only a 
Handful
Know
The
Details
Of the
Burden
I bear

Teeth smashed
By
A butt end
Of a rifle
Causes
Self
Preservation 
To
Take over

No
Heroic
Or 
Courageous 
Decision
Only
The fearful
Desire
To 
Live

I had
PTSD
Before
It was
Popular 
To have
It

No service
Dog
No meds
To
Drown
The 
Nightmare
just
an
Internal
mechanism 
In 
Me to
Carry 
On

I never have
walked
Into
The veteran administration 
requesting
for assistance
as I always
Figured
There is a brother
Or sister 
Who needs
It more

No hand
Outs
No belief
In entitlement 
I live
I ride
By my
Own 
Set of
Rules

I exist
Outside 
The grid
Yet
I conveniently 
Make adjustments 
To appear
As though
I do 

conspiracy theorists 
Hold fragments
Of truth
As big brother
Creates
5150's
Out of those
Who
Become
A threat

My service
Is to
God and Country
I don't 
Wear
A
MAGA
Hat
And 
My stomach 
Turns
Everytime
I 
See
A
Pink
Beanie

I am the
Guy
That
Society
Wants
You
To
Forget 

I am owned
By
No
One
And
I
Stand
For
The National 
Anthem 

This is the
Soldier's
Confession.....