Chris Woolnough

FLASHBULB MEMORIES

Back in the war, I saw some things,
My mind could not process.
Back in the world, I see reminders,
That cause me to regress.
Back to that very moment,
“DEATH” was tattooed on my brain,
And the feelings attached,
I still cannot face,
Cause me to feel insane.
The horror of a flashbulb memory,
Forever burned upon my mind,
Accompanied by guilt and shame,
For leaving my brothers behind.
All those painful memories,
Were buried so I’d survive,
And the part of me that died with them,
Forgets that I’m alive.
Those vivid images of war so real,
Were stored within a file,
And stressful triggers still take me back,
To relive it for a while.
Back in the war, I saw some things,
My mind could not process.
Back in the world, I see reminders,
That cause me to repress,
All those feelings I’ve been avoiding,
Because they HURT too much to feel.
Today I know I must face the pain,
So I can allow my wounds to heal.