Pain Poem by Philip Lore

Am I still awake,
My eyes are open,
So I must be.
I can't move,
My bodys' frozen.
What's happening to me?

The armor that I wear,
Protects me from shrapnel
In the air.
My steps begin to falter,
Eyes stare blank in the burning sun,
Struggle in my weakness,
This battle has just begun.

A rocket blast,
Just over my shoulder,
Brings terror back to me,
It marks the visions that I see.
It sears the ground,
As they fill the air,
These are the terrors, I must bear.
Daily visions that I see......
I try to...let it be.

For when the firing stills in town,
I ask if I'm still awake,
Its if I'm floating in a dream,
I want to shout,
I want to scream, but just shake.
Someone calls cease fire....,
Time to take a little break.

My head is bowed down from the strain,
Eyes gives sorrow away,
A sheepish grin brings a smile today,
A few short weeks, I'll be home to stay.