Hero's Welcome

Honorably discharged
and highly decorated 
you returned home
to a hero's welcome
only it doesn't feel like home
you barely recognize it
but no one talks about that
what about how you feel
since returning
all of the trauma
from the things you've seen
the things you've done
or the things that were done to you
but no one talks about that either
what's a hero's welcome
to someone who doesn't 
feel welcomed
someone who doesn't even
feel like they belong
amongst their peers
there's honor in being a hero
but not at the expense
of feeling less like a human being
in your own country

© 2018