APRIL, 2026
Thank you so very much to Editor Robin Barratt for publishing and then featuring my poem.
Shared post from PTSD - The Book
NEW - featured poetry taken from the book PTSD.
REDRAFTING A SOLDIER
By Linda Imbler
Stand up, soldier,
Stand up, and be at attention.
Don’t linger there on the ground,
letting time soften
those creases in your khakis,
its fabric’s value growing less with each tick of the clock.
You wish for your weary gallantry
to join that of others
who have shared your distress,
have smelled the scent of combat,
leaving sympathetic widows behind.
Rise, soldier.
Rise without effort.
Exert your own personal conquest over death’s battle.
I see you have your eyes raised to the stars.
Very well,
at this time, it would be correct for me
to say a few words in honor
of you and of your silent comrades.
Now that the end of your cycle is here,
I will make sure history records
the last edition of each of you.
ABOUT THE POEM: "I’m not sure how much has been written about those who not only have survived combat, but were the ones directing the soldiers into the theater. These officers have to face not only the initial loss of those under their command, but are then tasked to recognize the sacrifice of the dead through medals, reports, etc. My grandfather told me this burden carried never left him. It manifested itself through insomnia and depression. Throughout his life, he would tell stories of some of the brave ones who laid down their lives in World War 2. He felt he could never apologize to them enough, even though they were not there to hear his words."
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