Soldier
standing in the doorway,
turned his back
on the ugliness and pain,
turned his back
on the shocking glimpses of death,
turned his back
on the horrible past
he could not undo,

Soldier
standing at the bar
reached out to a woman
embraced her with hunger
and left in silence,
he felt no warmth,

Soldier
standing in a mirror
staring at himself
started to cry
turned his back.