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.