Returning From Watr

• Celeste O'Donnell, Grade 5, Young Public School -
• Poetry
• 2020

Excellence Award in the 'The Inside Story 2020' competition

Wound’s cloaking his entire body head to toe, mind set on his dear family.
His admirable relatives suffering, crying, just as hurt as he was.
Through clenched fists the only thing his head could
process was the sound of hideous gun shots.
Guilt-ridden and ashamed
because of the times he couldn’t help his fellow cadets,
who sadly lost their lives.
The dreadful memories of war sailing through his mind kept worsening.
When he finally calmed down from these appalling thoughts,
his hands slowly released from fists,
Leaving deep fingernail indents.
He threw his head back and whispered to himself
‘Why was I not good enough?”