I love to read your work, but this is heartbreaking. Yet perhaps if we allowed ourselves to be more broken hearted, we'd be less hard hearted. The former allows for healing, while the latter encourages turning a blind eye.
I saw this book you speak of at work, but hadn't heard about it again. Ignoring these things doesn't make them go away. Thank you for turning bravely towards them.
The trauma responses go deep, become hardwired. The drugs they turn to to cope don't help either of course. Thanks for sharing your work with us, Josh. This one was especially poignant.
Very powerful work your doing here Josh, the opening line “Clouds of collected souls roll
over a house.” Hits right away. And your really ground us in the truth of what war does to our homes, very much felt this. I had a conversation with a mentor of mine who had to travel alot because her father was in the military, how close her family—the young ones—where to conflict was very jaw dropping. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, yeah that is my favorite sonnet from the book. Fortunately I had my kids after I left the military but I knew many families that moved about and I can only imagine the difficulty for those kids -- and in the other areas like you mention.
Well done, Josh! Everyone I knew who served in combat and survived in Vietnam was radically changed when they came back, to the extent that they seemed to have become totally other people. Teaching young men in Special Forces that killing is the best way to solve problems stays with them forever and becomes their way of life forever. They get praised for "valor" and heaped with medals and promotions. And then they come home...
I knew about the murders. Doesn't make it any easier to read about it again.
Concurring with Daniel V. Gaglio - excellent poem and post.
WIshing that Substack provided us with something other than a heart to commend work like this.
I know, I have a tortuous relationship with the heart button too. But I always appreciate you reading and commenting.
I love to read your work, but this is heartbreaking. Yet perhaps if we allowed ourselves to be more broken hearted, we'd be less hard hearted. The former allows for healing, while the latter encourages turning a blind eye.
I saw this book you speak of at work, but hadn't heard about it again. Ignoring these things doesn't make them go away. Thank you for turning bravely towards them.
The trauma responses go deep, become hardwired. The drugs they turn to to cope don't help either of course. Thanks for sharing your work with us, Josh. This one was especially poignant.
Thanks, Ellis, appreciate you reading.
Very powerful work your doing here Josh, the opening line “Clouds of collected souls roll
over a house.” Hits right away. And your really ground us in the truth of what war does to our homes, very much felt this. I had a conversation with a mentor of mine who had to travel alot because her father was in the military, how close her family—the young ones—where to conflict was very jaw dropping. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, yeah that is my favorite sonnet from the book. Fortunately I had my kids after I left the military but I knew many families that moved about and I can only imagine the difficulty for those kids -- and in the other areas like you mention.
Josh! this line choked me up, "a newly widowed wife — / unaware." There's something about waiting with doom as the result. Time wasted and love gone.
Then I had to wince through the wife beating but it is good to be aware of.
Thanks as always and I hope you are doing fine!
That’s my favorite line from my favorite sonnet. I can hardly read it for the same reason.
Yeah, it was a very somber one this. But, the propaganda of the the poem and poster have to be countered somehow!
Thanks, Martin.
None of them come back unchanged. The families are caught in the destruction left behind. It breaks my heart, Josh.
Yeah, me too. Thanks, Rea!
Wow. Deeply moving.
Thank you, Celia.
Very powerful stuff, Josh. “…a solemn love” hits so hard.
Thanks Trevor, appreciate you reading!
I thought the poem spoke volumes
Thank you.
Powerful stuff, Josh. Thank you for sharing!
Excellent poem and discussion. I had no idea about the murders at Fort Bragg
Thank you. That Fort Bragg book was apparently a NYT bestseller. But even I had to set it down after the first 10 pages.
I’m impressed it sold that well, but I have not seen that much discussion on it. Except in other magazines (like the Baffler one I cited).
Sonnet 16 is heavy but sobering.
Well done, Josh! Everyone I knew who served in combat and survived in Vietnam was radically changed when they came back, to the extent that they seemed to have become totally other people. Teaching young men in Special Forces that killing is the best way to solve problems stays with them forever and becomes their way of life forever. They get praised for "valor" and heaped with medals and promotions. And then they come home...
Thanks Joe. Yeah, it’s an unnatural transition and sadly so very few resources to help with it.