FAR FROM FALUJAH

Smoke break in the psyche ward
Smoke disappears
Behind bars
Puddles collecting

Pajamas
Defining institutions
Closing a mind
Relaxing
With a load off
Three meals a day
Sleeping
Until they call your name

Slippers sliding
Like tires on black ice
Suicide attempts are normal
Like alcoholism

And skin to bone
Scars inside
Try to smile

Add another blanket

Celebrating discharges
The last of
This military life
Seen as failure

They get theirs
I get meds

At ease mind
With my own stripe
Far from Falujah
And faulty flack vest
A terrorized body
Covering faces
That haunt
The American family

To Reid and Tatum

NEPHEW
PURITY WOBBLES ON TWO LEGS
SPEAKS GIBBERISH THAT ONLY
HE UNDERSTANDS
AND HARDLY EVER CRIES

I SLEPT WITH HIM
IN THE SAME ROOM
AT MY PARENTS HOUSE
REGULATING EVERY MOVEMENT
AND CHANGE IN BREATHING
INSIDE THE CRIB NEXT
TO MY BED

I FELT REJUVENTATED
WHEN FORCED AWAKE
BY THE SOUND
OF A LANGUAGE
I DIDN’T UNDERSTAND
AND HIS WORLD
I DIDN’T KNOW

I CREPT UP BEHIND HIM
TO TICKLE HIS SIDES
HE TURNED AROUND
AND HANDED ME A TOY CAR
HE GOTTEN FOR CHRISTMAS

I HAD THINGS TO DO, ERRANDS TO RUN,
BUT HE WOULDN’T LET ME LEAVE
SO I STAYED
By Jason Jepson



Nephew 2

That’s all right, little man
Everyone falls;
And that bruise on your head will heal.
Go play with your toys.
Pretty soon you will be too old
For little cars and trucks.
You will look at them as sand
During the off season at the beach.
For now, go play;
Until you notice the curves
Of the girls in school.
Awkwardness will approach.
And you thought taking your first step
Would be the hardest thing
You would ever do.
I assure you
There are bigger steps to come.

By Jason Jepson