A Warrior's Tale:  Awakening the Silent Scream is written by a warrior for other warriors, who, like him, curl in on their private war within.  The horror of war is deeply depicted in these words and I could not help but think of the waterfall image, which has no beginning nor an end.  Behind that waterfall, however, is hope. 

There is a rock.  There is a warrior.  This message is a warning and a comfort.  There is no good war...there is no way of winning a war.  There is eternal shrapnel.  The warriors from this war are just beginning to share their horror.  Their health issues are just emerging.  Think what that means for the poor men and women who come home from the Gulf wondering why they were sent and many times re-sent.  It is the hope of this poem to re-awaken the warriors in all who have gone to fight.  The realized warrior stands up and says no.  This is not the way.  The words of Dru Favali will haunt, whether or not the first hand experience was yours. 

In 'A Warrior's tale: Awakening the Silent Scream, Robert (Dru) Favali speaks not only for himself as a Marine in the Viet Nam war forty years ago, but for all the young men and women who serve bravely today in the Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. He makes it viscerally clear that he has left raw and meaningful pieces of himself behind, fragments which he struggles to recover every night and day of his present life.

That scream he hears 'lives in its silent domain' where 'death carries the scent of carrion.' This 'lost warrior' is finally a part of everyone of us in these following lines which invite us to take serious caution and thought before igniting any war. The marks of violence are indelible on POWs MIAs, and every homeward-bound soldier. Favali invites us to be a witness to war with this powerful and evocative stanza:

Come with me and reshape the fragments of my life.

Left in some jungle place.

My warrior hides by a waterfall,

Deep within the rock.

At the end of the poem, the poet states that we are "All One Forever", and indeed this poem makes the reader participate and feel exactly this way.

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Bio: Katherine Soniat's fifth collection of poetry, The Swing 

Girl, is forthcoming from Louisiana State University Press Poetry 

Series. She is an Associate Professor of English, Emerita, at

Virginia Tech where she taught Creative Writing for twenty years. 

Presently, she lives in Black Mountain, N.C.

I was born shortly after Pearl Harbor and grew up knowing another name that many of us bore--War Babies. My father, who was career military, came home from the Pacific when I was three, and had what was called “shell shock.” It seems much of my poetic imagination was shaped by those terms; my sympathy in writing has always revolved around children, animals, and those vulnerable creatures mowed down by war (or other deprivations), including the Earth on which we live. Of course, Earth suffers inflictions delivered by humans in environmentally destructive ways too.   

When I arrived in Black Mountain a year ago, I had retired from Virginia Tech after teaching Creative Writing there for some twenty years. The “shootings” occurred three weeks before my leave-taking that spring. The young man, a student, who carried out that horrific crime was a Creative-Writing major in the English Dept. It was an awful time for all of us, but in retrospect I see how violence has followed this “war baby,” and perhaps allowed my poetry, in turn, to speak for those damaged ones and to give them a voice.         

PTSD: By Patricia Gaudette 

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has traumatic effects not only on the victim, but the family as well. The negative behaviors that stem from a victim of PTSD can result in self-destruction, with the possibility of physical, sexual and verbal abuse with a spouse or loved one. Children, most likely, will lack the positive regard needed for healthy development. The symptoms of PTSD range from mild to severe, although if not treated, can seriously impact the mental health of the victim and those living in the home.

The outcome is that PTSD symptoms will gradually develop in children and the spouse in one form or another.Treatment of PTSD needs to be addressed immediately following any horrific event. There is no shame in having this disorder, as we are only human, not meant to live or experience the horrors of war, violent acts, deadly accidents, or any traumatic experience. It would be right to question anyone who returned home without a feeling of hurt, guilt, anger or shame.As the oldest daughter of a father who served in the Vietnam War, suffering most of his life with PTSD, I understand first hand the impact it can have on the family.

When I was a young child, I was witness to physical and verbal abuse, moodiness, severe depression, that led to a life of poverty. My mother, without support from the outside world, became depressed as most woman do who are battered and see no light in the world that has fallen down around her. As a child witnessing both parents in a world of deep emotional turmoil, I naturally found that I too developed in a similar nature as I stumbled through life learning each lesson by living the experience, whether negative or positive. My siblings felt the harshness of PTSD as they lived through severe punishments and authoritative parenting, more so than myself.

When I ponder on the past memories, my heart goes out to them as I see them as precious children who needed love, encouragement and hugs. Today, my brother now suffers from PTSD from the Iraq war, and undoubtedly still carrying the beliefs about himself and the world that still remains in his subconscious mind from the past. My sister on the other hand has struggled through life herself with alcohol and drug use; although, she has been able to begin the process of truly loving herself to be successful and serve others in the world.

In my extensive research with PTSD, I find that Australia has done extensive research and has published more information in regards to the development of children growing in an environment of PTSD. Depression, suicide, chronic health issues, and a number of other conditions rank high as these children grow into adults, finding it hard to gain control of their own lives. I on the other hand, know and understand that with the proper treatment, reprogramming of our thoughts, and positive support, this illness and all of these associated conditions can be changed at any time.

The key is self-determination in looking for the right assistance that will bring the positive changes needed to move on successfully into the world. Pharmaceutical drugs are a temporary way to mask what is truly going on inside the mind. Understanding that some drugs are important in severe cases, the true cure lies within our hearts and minds. There is no need, nor any reason for anyone to have to suffer, reducing the quality of life for such an extended period of time.Behaviors are a reaction to an event that has been implanted into our subconscious mind.

Reprogramming the mind to live a healthy, successful and positive life is your choice, it can be done. Remember, a loving and wonderful person is always present; it is okay to let that person shine. It is all about shifting our thoughts and focusing on what it is we truly want, leaving a painful past behind. PTSD effects everyone; victim, spouse, parents, children, friends-so get help and know that you are worthy of living the life you deserve in the most positive and productive way.Generally speaking, there is a shortage of mental health care in America. Taking control of one's life by educating yourself on PTSD and its effects on your mind, body, and spirit, as well as the negative impact on the people around you is the key to change.

Take the time to find people who reinforce love and encouragement, and find or start support groups to share personal stories. Read books that will inspire positive growth relating to self-help, healing, and spirituality. Be open to successful recoveries by seeking alternative treatments such as Neuro-Linguistic Programming and Hypnosis. Recovering from PTSD is curable with your own determination, patience, support and most importantly, a good dose of self-love and self-awareness. Love Yourself First-Change Your Life. With this self-love, you will be better equipped to truly love others and be a positive enforcement and role model for your family and friends.

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