22 Poem by Perry Biggerstaff

He was one of twenty two...

He honored sacrifice
and sought out integrity
He placed the needs of many
above his own needs
and his wants

By nature he lived
within the darkened halls
of his own soul
A place were the warrior sweats, bleeds
and often cries when alone

The wolfhound trained
to kill the wolf
But when the hound comes home
he cant flip a switch
and change

His heightened awareness was a curse
Loud sounds and unexpected situations
invoked memories
and emotions
best left buried

His brothers came back
covered with a flag
that he saw stomped on and burned
by those who were handed freedom
but who have sacrificed nothing

He fought for their right
to look down on him
with smug superiority
From the ivory towers of liberty
they didn't build

He returned when others didn't
He chose loneliness
over being with those
who can't understand
or won't

Forgotten
No longer needed
He sought release
rather then face the brokenness
that his nation chooses to ignore



...He was one of twenty two today