The FLIGHT
by Steven Bates 5 Aug 2023
Fighters on wingtips left and right
Never letting our aircraft leave from their sight
Crossing an ocean deep, dark, and blue
Into unknown dangers we nervously flew
Young men, old men, and some middle age
For oh so many, the first war they would wage
Nervous and tense, preparing for battle
In case the saber does more than rattle
Years from then the fighting has passed
But yet the fears and pains still linger and last
Anger, hardships, plus long nightly sweats
Still always perceiving for viable threats
33 years since that arduous flight
And to this day I remember the night
Refueling in air the planes for protection
In case any hostilities came our direction
Landing in heat so oppressive it hurt
Then scrambling to safety amid all the dirt
As far as the eye saw was nothing but sand
And King Khalid Airport where we had to land
Thirty-three years since Aug of 90
When off we flew into a danger zone blindly
And to this day and even this year
Around this time, I still face a fear
I still feel the panic, the nervousness too
Even the wonder of what I might do
Yes, the anniversary is here of when off I flew
The struggle is real, I tell you, that's true
So how do you deal with a date in your mind
That always takes you to places you find
You don't to visit, you don't want to go
You don't want to remember, you don't to know
First thing is first, stay away from the drink
For into depression is where you will sink
Stay away from the drugs, and mind-altering stuff
It'll just add more trauma, you've been through enough
Find you a therapist, a friend, peer support
A Brother-in-arms, a spouse, or cohort
Someone to talk to, one that will hear
One that will listen with an open mind and an ear
Don't spend your anniversary alone anymore
Just like I won't be for year thirty-four
I've got you friend, and you have me too
If you need to call, I'm here for you
Anniversaries are hard, believe me, I know
But think of what's happened, what you have to show
Yes, you have scars, emotional, and flesh
but remember it's past, the wound isn't fresh
So face all those memories with strength and conviction
Remember the past is not an affliction
The past is the past, the date just a time
And now you are past it, NOW is your PRIME
NOW is your Life, NOW's where you're at
NOW is what matters and that is, just that!
NOW is for healing, NOW you are you
NOW is the time .....NOW go make it new!