Nicholas P. Gaffney

 

I often wake up with the sole purpose

of slinging my rifle over my shoulder

so that I can walk outside to take a piss.

I haven’t been deployed for five years

but this happens at least once a week.

My wife must tell me to lie back down.

She lays her arm over my body and

it reminds me of the strap from my rifle.

“Arm or sling?”  I wonder. Different

chapters of my life.  Different lovers

in separate times.