Service

 Service

Through years of anger,

guilt, regret, he’d yearned

for peace, forgiveness, 

seemingly forever mired, 

in memories forever burned.

Those who did not know him

thanked him for his service,

with no idea how it felt to hear,

living with the pain still near,

how separate from his now,

from his life’s new purpose,

his desire to grow, to know.

He’d tried to forgive himself 

a thousand times, at least,

would do so again,

on each new day,

through joy or remorse, 

come what may,

but held by the memory, 

a determined beast,

those well-intended thanks

reminders of a distant East,

hoping time enough remained

for blessed service and more,

to banish pain and guilt, 

master new lessons before

life’s final peace

brings an end to his war.