#medic
The metal floor is slicky
Desert heat amplifies
The odor of ***** and blood
Mostly empty IV bags hang on their stands
Packaging from numerous medical supplies
Litter the ground
Quickly and carefully I clean and spray and sweep and scrub
I sort and pack and refit and reorganize
Preparing the chopper for the next call
Lives were saved
But
I don’t know what will become of them
Some will leave the Army
Some will come back here
Some will do the job the enemy couldn’t do
And take their own lives
I can’t think about that
This is hard enough
Feb 10, 2020
Feb 10, 2020 at 11:02 AM UTC
I can’t feel my legs
Stay with us, Buddy
The chopper’s inbound
I need some O-Positive
Stay with us, Buddy
Apply direct pressure
I need some O-Positive
Put that one over here
Apply direct pressure
I’ve lost the pulse
Put that one over here
Where’s the Chaplain?
I’ve lost the pulse
The chopper’s inbound
Where’s the Chaplain
I can’t feel my legs
Feb 5, 2020
Feb 5, 2020 at 1:03 PM UTC
I'm sick of you, you shackle me
Metal teeth that lock still laughing
But don't break, it's unsafe, you see
Have to take this thing to hell and back,
Its dangerous, they do insist.
I'm chained to you like a sick Saw game
With a rusty blade, I cut right through.
Only to still have you glued.
Right here.
When your limbs did break,
I would push them back if still attached
That double latch that wouldn't clasp,
My fingers couldn't bend like that.
Call some help, a medic stat!
Forceps push into a snap.
Now that I have you mine again,
I want to rip you right off and then
Show them I can live without your chains
Tell them I could find a better way.
I'll show you just to leave you in this grave I made.
You aren't my demon but I still want you slain.
Nov 26, 2019
Nov 26, 2019 at 9:47 PM UTC
We come before you Almighty God,
Policeman, Fireman, and EMT
to say a prayer before we go
Our ways to each his own Duty
Together now we've come to pray
In case we forget to
During our busy day
The Policeman steps forth,
“Dear God above
Keep us save
and also those we love.
We pray for your unending favor
that we never need use
the rounds we chamber
Our Vests that we wear
for our own protection
please keep 'em bulletproof
and our safety never question”
The Fireman steps up and then takes a knee
“Dear God above I need you now
I know you're always watching me
In the Fires of our Hell
or on the highway to there
Please keep us from hurt
and not singe a single hair
Give us the strength to lift a wall
or tenderness to pick up a tiny child
give us peace when others are losing it
and peace if the scene starts getting wild”
The EMT takes his stand
“God I guess it's my turn
Not really safety out there
or the protection from a burn
But rather Lord I need your help
let me make the right decision
on every patient that I care for
Their lives in my hands I've been given”
Then all Three stand together
with their heads, all bowed low
Dear God above, to all of us
please your mercy would you endow
Keep us safe and bring us home
to our wives and our children
And each time the truck roles out
let it come back safely to it's building
Jun 7, 2019
Jun 7, 2019 at 10:53 AM UTC
It seems like yesterday except, it is today.
A voice” Level one trauma, 10 patients.”
The smell of dust, exhaust and sweat,
excitement and fear, controlled chaos,
medics, mangled men, women, the innocent.
Arrive broken, mended, gone, arrive again.
an inexhaustible stream; blood out, blood in.
Shredded uniforms, soiled bandages, a lost crucifix,
syringes, a family photo, severed legs, and arms,
plastic tubing, piled up, collected, discarded, burned.
Some familiar faces, mostly nameless faces,
friends and enemies, loved ones and strangers,
cities, towns, suburbs, villages, tent, and field.
Sadness and anger, pride and confidence,
hopes and dreams, illusions and truth.
Beginning and ending, never ceasing.
I will rest soon, but not too soon.
heading for my final rest,
one day.
May 13, 2019
May 13, 2019 at 12:54 PM UTC
I was a minor who grew up as part of the majority of minorities. Then I embraced a misfit lifestyle, believing Christ, the Messiah, holds all authority. I became a Marine and a married man receiving more responsibility. I'm becoming a medic, treating trauma and those who's lives need monitoring. In the midst of it all, my entire life has been molded by this common theme: ministry.
Not the religious type, but the genuinely authentic, legitimate kind; full of humble and authentic servants and leaders through community; Imperfect people pursuing positive change and holiness; its more than self-prosperity. I call this community of people, Church, and these members I call my family.
My life ain't perfect, but its been a blessing to live life despite dark days, receiving unearned and undeserving forgiveness, mercy, and grace. My hope can't be "proven" real or fake, its why its called faith. So may those who obey through faith bring peace, placing hope on display. I am nothing without God. My love for you comes from Love He sacrificially gave. My heart, mind, and soul are transformed and influenced by His perfect ways. May the One whose might cannot be matched receive glory and praise, for His ways have given me, a newly-shaped life, that is, the least to say... Im ever thankful. Amen [YAWEH]!
This is me. The medic-in-the-making, former Marine, Messiah's misfit from the mass of minorities - ministry molding my life, even in the midst of where I'm moved to next. I just want to obey, do, and be better for me, you, and future generations. There's really no harm in this. You could disarm the hostile hits. There's good news (the gospel message) and my past, present, and future are moved by it! Be blessed!
[MAKE YOUR MOVES]
9 Jan 19
0103hrs
Jan 9, 2019
Jan 9, 2019 at 9:55 AM UTC
Sirens signal my coming
with chirps and wails,
Primary lights flashing
to alert them to my presence.
My purpose pumps from a well
that is endlessly deep --
so deep, in fact, that
many shallow people have drowned here.
I don't falter, I don't pause,
I act with precision and skill
to give my charge his best chance
at seeing tomorrow.
Gloriously efficient,
Confidence and purpose
radiate from me
as my insides quiver with fear.
Jan 23, 2016
Jan 23, 2016 at 2:36 PM UTC
He was alone
Far from home
Isolated by bullets
As he bled on sand and stone
The explosion triggering the attack
Crushed vertebrae in a brother's back
A bullet tore through another's arm
The wound left a prominent scar
Through the radio, the lone voice of the isolated soldier:
"I've been shot...and it's bad."
Upon reaching the fallen, the medic knew from ****** experience
That his friend was a living corpse, dying is a process
Doc prayed he was wrong
He wasn't
Next week, next firefight
Their blood paid for our blood
Pray it meant something in the end
May 26, 2014
May 26, 2014 at 2:25 PM UTC