Past Wars

Past Wars

Burning holes into my daily thoughts
slights long ago received
memory grenades
remembered and exploding
drowning my mood in acid fire

Moments expanded on
pistol shot becomes machine gun
what might have beens
if the trigger had been held down

Wars fought and not begun
violence welling up
a flame thrown across my day
igniting old should've
would've
could'ves

I engage enemies long gone
fight to retake fields long abandoned
relive battles the adversaries have forgotten
using old anger as canon fire

How to end the shell shocked march thru my past
break camp
and find home
amidst the echo of bullets

May 20, 2002

Tressa Lee Breen