Mornings in Helmand

by Matthew Borczon

After 12
Hr shifts
emptying wound
vacs and
bandaging stumps
and changing
bloody sheets
I would
return to
my tent
and a
bunk
no wider
than my
shoulders
no room
to turn
to roll
to dream
I learned
to sleep
like I
was dead
which was
easy
considering how
I lived

Matthew Borczon is a nurse and Navy Reserve corpsman. He has four children and has been published in a variety of venues. His work is about his time in Afghanistan and his readjustment since he has been home.