I met a young man today who talked about war.

“It is surreal that popcorn would be served
while watching bombs drop….

Bombs killing terrorists and many civilians. Bombs eliciting cheers and popcorn. What am I supposed to do with this now, he cried?

I cheered too.”

War Buff

Here! Hurry,
Grab your seat,
The room is filling.
Popcorn, popcorn!

Get it now, 
Before we drop ‘em,
Grab your coke.
Its free!   

Salute your flag,
Start the music, B 52’s?
Sing it now…
America, the Beautiful….

Popcorn, popcorn!
Hurry! You don’t want to miss it.
Popcorn, popcorn!

Oh Beautiful,
for spacious skies…
Here they come! 
Screaming guns.

Drop that mother!
Pop. Pop. Pop.
Drop another.

Kill, Kill, Kill.

Pass that popcorn!
And crown thy good,
With brotherhood…
What a kill!

We did it, bravo!
And amber waves of…
Mother, Father, Sister,
Brother, Child, Lover…

From sea to shining sea…
Today,
Every day,
God, Shed his Grace on Thee.

~Ann Sartori

Author, Ann Sartori: Ann listens to the stories of war that come home with veterans most every day.

She is often trying to find a way to express her relationship with the Divine, humanity, animals, nature, love, the unknown and unknowables of war.

“How about giving poetry a try?” she says.

She spends each morning contemplating the beauty in our world. Praying for restraint and right speech. Praying for the ability and strength to keep listening to veterans as they share their heartfelt and painful experiences in the military, prior to and during war.

She is working on a compilation of poems which will cast light on the merging of veterans’ stories with her own stories.

Ann is a Benedictine Oblate candidate at St. Placids’ Monastery in Lacey, WA, a mother to a creative and darling daughter, a feather brazer at the Warrior Story Field, and a psychologist and psychoanalyst.

As always, she says, “I offer gratitude to the Divine Creator for the many gifts given. For patience and forgiveness. And, for a damn good time here on this planet.”

If you are a Veteran having thoughts of suicide—or you’re concerned about one—free, confidential support is available 24/7. Call the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-8255 and press 1, text to 838255, or chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat.