Veteran

Veteran

back to the earth

of my normal existence

I see nothing in the misty dawn

no home, 

no job,

no money

no thanks

service to a country

that abandoned its soldiers

in the wind

flying a Medicaid kite

it's string broken

the kite gone

the body aching

broken like the string

back to the earth

of a town that no longer knows me

my face is different

scarred

broken like the string, like the body

like my loyalty

to a flag that waved goodbye to me

but not hello when I returned

it is ripped like the old jeans

I wear, full of holes

that bullets could have passed through

an old cap

says "veteran"

I am still flying from what I ingested

to stay separated from what I was doing there

the same there in theory

as all the other theres 

others experienced in the past

back to the earth

with no map to show me the way

to a hug

a handshake

a salute

even just a hello

I need new jeans

I need a new face

a new heart

a dose of hope

a few nickels to rub together

for a meal

maybe a last meal

Medals sold separately

erin-cilberto

7/9/25

Reviews

[Ayesha Faiz]

This poem is powerful and heartbreaking. It really shows the pain and loneliness a veteran feels after giving everything and getting nothing in return. The words are raw and honest. I really loved every single like of this poem. The reader can litrelly feel deep emotions with each line, atleast that's how I felt while reading this. You're a great writer, Jacob. Truly!!!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I appreciate that you could connect to this piece.
thank you, Ayesha.
j.

[Relic]

My band used to play at Veterans Day events. I've seen them with their scrappy beards and caps. To someone not in the know they look like bikers. But they come from an era of undesirables and those forgotten and thrown away. It's hard to understand. They gave their sanity for some politicians who could care less.

Great poem, J.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, some who could care less...amen to that. I think that is great that you did serve in your way with your band.
j.
j.

[Relic]

Thanks. We did it for many years. It was the least we could do.

[Ms claws]

J! You can not sell your medals! Think of leaving your legacy for your family!
If you are simply writing as a veteran, I would tell you there are millions who support our brave men and women who volunteer to lay their lives down to keep the USA the greatest free country on Earth!
I'm sorry we do not celebrate you every single day. We should!
From where I live, I can hear On Our military base, three bugle calls mark the start and end of the duty day: Reveille signals the beginning, Retreat marks the end, and Taps signifies the start of quiet hours.
Reveille: Played in the morning, often accompanied by the raising of the American flag, it signals the start of the official duty day.
Retreat: Played in the evening, often before the flag is lowered and the national anthem is played or the bugle call "To The Color" is sounded.
Taps: Played at night to signal the end of the day and the start of quiet hours.
Protocol: When these calls are played, individuals outdoors are expected to stop, face the flag (or the direction of the music if the flag isn't visible), and render appropriate honors, such as saluting if in uniform. Vehicles are also expected to stop. Whenever I'm on base and the bugles sound, EVERYBODY STOPS, SALUTES OR PUTS THEIR HAND OVER THEIR HEART. Some soldiers are missing limbs and cannot cover their heart so they bow their head in respect for the active soldiers who serve. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE GREATEST FREE COUNTRY ON EARTH. YOU ARE APPRECIATED AND RESPECTED.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Did not serve but feel so much appreciation for those who did. Thank you for your words.
We can pass them on to all the veterans who did serve.
j.

[DIVYA]

I love this poem about returning to a city with an underwhelming welcome. Jacob, my returns have always been like this, no one familiar, nothing warm and certainly no feeling of being recognized. We return older, heavier, scruffier. Beautifully written. Are you traveling right now? The poem seems to make me think that.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Thank you for your kind review, Divya.
j.