The ravages of war

are always the same, regardless

of which uniform you wore,

theirs or your own, two opposing

causes, clashing; both are right;

both are wrong. And the heroes

come home, older, different, distant

from the young men and boys

who went off to do battle,

willingly, or not, just

forever changed, scarred

by the ravages of war,

always the same,

regardless …