A fifth of whiskey is almost enough
To get him to fall asleep.
The demons in his head
Won’t leave him alone
And neither will the ghosts
Of friends he’s known.

Two gas station packs of Benedryl
And just one more hard, stiff drink
Gets the job done for now
Because I’m standing
And watching him sleep.

Just breathing
I’m watching his chest
Rise and fall
To a rhythm that I don’t know

He’s always been
A little on edge
But tonight it was so much more

He told me things
That I never wanted to hear
But I couldn’t bring myself
To cut him off
I knew he just needed an ear

He told me about
Munns and Noah
And running a gun
And the beauty of the Fertile Crescent

He told me about
Badges and patches
And run-ins with the law
And taught me what being
A man meant

He told me he knew we
Were winning this war
Then showed me the tattoo
Under his sleeve

It read, “I’m a Winner!”
And I can’t help but agree
That he won something
But he ever had to say
“I have killed civilians.”
On my front porch
To claim victory

I simply can’t stomach
The reward his country is giving
Because the men, women, and children buried
Aren’t the only ones who died in the desert