Matt Borczon

In Afghanistan

when the

fighting got

really heavy

I would

be pulled

out of

the ward

and put

right up

front to

receive the

wounded from

the helicopter

there was

little I

could do

there except

clear away

blood hold

severed limbs

hand equipment

to nurses

and try

not to

get rattled

as soldiers

screamed

on those

days even

the sky

had teeth.

5 am

I am

heading

for the

gym I

have weights

to lift

a day

to start

words

to write

when our

youngest

daughter

who still

sleeps

with us

wraps her

arms around

me in

bed and

I realize

this morning

now belongs

to her.

Matt Borczon is a writer and nurse from Erie, Pa. He publishes widely in the small press. His book A Clock of Human Bones won the Yellow Chair Review chap book contest in 2015. His second book Battle Lines is available through Epic Rites Press and his third book Ghost Train will come out in 2017 from Weasel Press.