Crisis... of Faith

Crisis... of Faith
Veteran’s Hotline, September 5, 2022

“To be or not, ” the faint voice said
reciting words heard oft on stage.
“Should I choose living or the dead?”
I heard his anguish and his rage.

The pain is clear; a jagged scrawl
of hopelessness in each exchange.
The details differ with each call
but the story doesn’t change.

They’ve served our nation; peace and war.
They’ve sacrificed and given all.
We’ve left them stranded on the shore
not understanding why they call.

They know the promise of this land
they have defended; liberty
and hope for all “for which it stands”
but that’s not what they’ve come to see.

The promises seem hollow now.
Their meanings twisted up in lies.
Anger becomes despair, somehow,
and no one listens to their cries.

“To be or not?” I challenge each
to hear the sound of freedom’s ring.
I pray that day’s within our reach
and that this phone will never ring.

About 20 veterans commit suicide a day. The suicide rate for veterans is 1.5 times higher than that of the general population. Comparing the rate among female veterans to non-Veteran adult women, the rate is 2.5 times higher.

If you or someone you know needs help dealing with suicidal thoughts, help is available 24/7 by dialing 988.

An entry for September 4th round of "The Not-So-Daily Poem" 
Prompt: Your poem must begin with the words "To be".
Form: Quatrains
Line Count: 24