PTSD is bad, said he; I'm bothered all the time
Is it? - asked the other - Is it as bad as mine?
Well, you know - I have those flashbacks -
and the depression's quite a bore -
And the other said, I've had all that -
since I came back from War.

And a mother spoke up then and there
and with a tear, she said -
Could I have something wrong with me?
You see, my son is dead -
and I keep having nightmares
that he calls to me and cries
He wants me to reach out to him
at the moment that he dies.

And a nurse piped up and said to me
I think I've got them beat
in the contest for the flashbacks-
mine are a repeat
from the ones I had all through
the war -
the ones I'm having now -
I was the one her son cried with,
what's the difference why or how;

And a wife stepped up and
said her piecez
how she'd been afraid each day
waiting for a letter
from oh, so far away -

I wondered - are there differences
in how these people feel?
And their dreams and mental slide shows,
aren't they colorful and real?

And a Red Cross Donut Dollie
looks at me and wants to know
why her friend was murdered
so very long ago - -

So I wonder in my heart of hearts -
can someone help me please?
Is it possible there's an illness
called PTS Degrees?

Copyright Christina 8-11-99

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