We got drunk to forget
our loneliness & how
we walked through hell
battling terror.

Hangovers meant nothing,
we would leave our post
during the daylight hours
(the ambushes were at night),
knowing the trauma to come.

And who were these people,
barking out endless orders
to sweep this sector and that one,
mopping up those bearded guys
& veiled spooks
we considered less than human.

But nobody really knew any better
as we strolled armed to the hilt
running on high tension
telling each other,
"What happens in Helmand province,
stays in Helmand province."

And thank God we did,
'cause nobody really wants
to hear about brutality,
blood and guts &
drunken revelry
to forget the things
people don't teally
want to talk about.