Two Voice Poem

Voice of daughter

She used to be filled with joy. Someone who could never stop smiling. Now, I can’t even get her to grin.

She cries every night. She’s always so sad. Isn’t something I did or something I said?

I’m her daughter and want to be able to talk with her. I ask her what’s wrong. She doesn’t reply.

I want her to talk about what happened, what she saw, smelled, how she felt, anything really. I just want to talk to my mom.

She thinks alcohol will solve her problems. I just wish she would stop drinking so much; she’s going to get sick.

Why her? She use to be so different so sweet, kind, and gently. I just want my mother back.

She is so selfish to do this to herself. To do this to me. She doesn’t love me.

Voice of soldier

What happened to me? I’ve tried everything to get me back to normal, but the medication doesn’t seem to help.

I wake up in the middle of the night. The flashbacks and nightmares seem to never stop.

I can’t talk about what happened or even begin to think about those 3 miserable years in Iraq.

I want to talk to my family, but the thought of war brings me more pain and tears. I want to be strong. I can’t have them see me like this.

Alcohol is my only friend. It helps ease the pain, and let me forget about the horror I experienced

I just wish people knew what it was like. I wish they could see how hard it is to be in my shoes.

I love my family. I really do. I can’t bear for them to see me like this. I regret my decision, I really do.