Dwell in Hope

by Ben Hawkins

Poem


Our Lonely Death

by George Nolta

Poem


Somewhere a Woman Is Building an Ark

by Louise Eisenbrandt

Poem


Solitude by the Sea

by William Anderes

Poem


Combat Nursing

by Louise Eisenbrandt

Prose


That Look

by David Marchant

Poem


Writing Really Does Help

By kim gwinner, Army

Writing Type: Array

By Kim Gwinner
VA Medical Center--Cincinnati, OH

Here I am all alone,
Sitting at the table here at home.

Haven't seen my therapist in three weeks.
My guard is down and I'm feeling bleak.

My mind is twisted, confused and congested.
I need to talk to get my head rested.

My bad coping skills are knocking at the door.
I've relapsed to smoking, but I want to do more.

I am doing my best though trying to hold on.
I've worked so hard I don't want my progress to be gone.

But flashbacks and intrusive thoughts
Are filling my time and, yeah, there's a lot. 

I'm writing to release some negative energy.
For now, I have become my own worst enemy.

I want to hurt myself, but I know better.
But today I'm feeling like the weather.

Dark, gray, stormy. You know, just downright gloomy.
It so changes me and makes me feel loony.

Come on now, Kim, you've been through worse.
I know sometimes LIFE can feel like a curse.

Writing this poem has released some fear.
Take a deep breath and wipe away the tears.

You know, I'm not really at home alone.
Now I can see I have me, paper and a pen.
And the Veterans Crisis Line number for my phone.
1.800.877.8255 OR 988 (press 1).

Notes: I wrote this as I began to spiral into a PTSD episode. I was alone and scared. So, I had the pen and paper in front of me, and this is what came out.

They Were Warriors First

by Matthew Davison

Prose


A Place Where Soldiers Go

by Paul Gonzales

Poem


A Knock on the Door

by Diane Wasden

Prose


What a Beauty

by Jack Tompkins

Sketch


The Nurses and Staff of My VA Hospital

by Jeffrey Saarela

Poem


Retail Blues

by Lynn Norton

Poem