Shellshock Poem by Carsten Thomsen

He is one of those
unfortunate few
Stationed abroad
Fighting a war
few people
here or there
understand
or no longer
want

I heard his camp
was mortar-shelled
and like the decent
fellow I am
wrote him
Telling him to take
care and keep all
his limbs so that I
one day
could shake his hand
and perhaps even call
him friend

His soon to be wed
lovely girlfriend
has moved to her parents
to put his mind at ease

As if me living
within walking distance
of this long time friend
in a city of 8 millions
was more dangerous
than rapists
muggers
stray dogs
and bullets

So halfway
between amused
and bewildered
between sympathy
and pride
I realize it only took
one skinny white-boy
to unnerve
what mortars
and the Taliban
failed to do

The Axis of the Willing
Should be happy
I don't believe
In ANY
Imaginary friend